This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-18435374#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Burma's Aung San Suu Kyi begins landmark Europe visit | Burma's Aung San Suu Kyi begins landmark Europe visit |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been giving a speech to the United Nations in Geneva at the start of a visit to Europe. | |
| She spoke at the UN's International Labour Organization, which has led a long campaign against child and slave labour in Burma. | |
| Aung San Suu Kyi spent much of the past 24 years under house arrest in Burma. | Aung San Suu Kyi spent much of the past 24 years under house arrest in Burma. |
| The visit, her first to Europe since 1988, is seen as another milestone for the country's political progress. | The visit, her first to Europe since 1988, is seen as another milestone for the country's political progress. |
| She welcomed steps by the international community to reach out to her country, long isolated because of its military dictatorship. | |
| "The international community is trying very hard to bring my country into it and it's up to our country to respond the right way." | |
| During a tour lasting two weeks, she will visit the UK, Switzerland, Ireland, France and Norway, where she will accept her 1991 Nobel Peace Prize. | During a tour lasting two weeks, she will visit the UK, Switzerland, Ireland, France and Norway, where she will accept her 1991 Nobel Peace Prize. |
| Correspondents say Aung San Suu Kyi is addressing the ILO in recognition of its longstanding focus on the poor human rights record of former military rulers in Burma. | |
| It is her second recent overseas trip, after visiting Thailand in May. | It is her second recent overseas trip, after visiting Thailand in May. |
| She told reporters before she left Burma that she expects the trip to Europe to be eye-opening. | She told reporters before she left Burma that she expects the trip to Europe to be eye-opening. |
| "Each country will be different. I will know how backward [Burma] is when I reach the other countries," she said. | "Each country will be different. I will know how backward [Burma] is when I reach the other countries," she said. |
| She also added that she "would like to do my best for the interests of the people". | She also added that she "would like to do my best for the interests of the people". |
| Reform | Reform |
| Ms Suu Kyi has spent much of the past two decades under house arrest as a political prisoner. But as part of Burma's recent reform process, she was freed in late 2010 and won a seat in parliament in by-elections in April this year. | Ms Suu Kyi has spent much of the past two decades under house arrest as a political prisoner. But as part of Burma's recent reform process, she was freed in late 2010 and won a seat in parliament in by-elections in April this year. |
| Her decision to travel is seen as a sign of confidence in the government of President Thein Sein, who has pursued a course of reform since coming to power last year, in Burma's first elections in 20 years. | Her decision to travel is seen as a sign of confidence in the government of President Thein Sein, who has pursued a course of reform since coming to power last year, in Burma's first elections in 20 years. |
| Aung San Suu Kyi is the daughter of Burmese independence leader Aung San, who was assassinated in 1947. | Aung San Suu Kyi is the daughter of Burmese independence leader Aung San, who was assassinated in 1947. |
| She became the leader of Burma's pro-democracy movement when, after living abroad for many years, she returned to Burma in 1988, initially to look after her sick mother. | She became the leader of Burma's pro-democracy movement when, after living abroad for many years, she returned to Burma in 1988, initially to look after her sick mother. |
| After that, she did not leave the country until recently, fearing that the country's then military rulers would not allow her to return to Burma. | After that, she did not leave the country until recently, fearing that the country's then military rulers would not allow her to return to Burma. |
| The decision meant that she was unable to receive in person her Nobel Peace Prize, awarded in 1991, or be with her British husband, Michael Aris, when he died in 1999. | The decision meant that she was unable to receive in person her Nobel Peace Prize, awarded in 1991, or be with her British husband, Michael Aris, when he died in 1999. |