Myanmar opposition leader, parliament speaker agree on national reconciliation

Shwe Mann (L), speaker of Myanmar's Union Parliament, shakes hands with National League for Democracy (NLD) leader Aung San Suu Kyi before their meeting at the Lower House of Parliament in Naypyitaw November 19, 2015.[Photo/Agencies]

YANGON - Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and current Parliament Speaker U Shwe Mann on Thursday agreed to place emphasis on national reconciliation and national consolidation in forming the new parliament, said a joint statement following talks between the two figures in Nay Pyi Taw.

Suu Kyi met U Shwe Mann in the capital for the first ever dialogue requested by Suu Kyi after her National League or Democracy (NLD) won a landslide victory in the Nov. 8 general election.

The closed-door dialogue took place as called by Suu Kyi in her Nov. 11 letter to U Shwe Mann.

In the joint statement, both sides also agreed to coordinate and cooperate in performance of parliament-related matters and other important tasks to gain mutual trust.

The two sides concurred to coordinate and cooperate in forming parliament of the second term under law.

The statement stressed that both sides agreed to calmly and systematically implement the aspiration produced through the general election to raise the country's dignity and bring mind peace to the people.

In her separate letters on Nov. 11, Aung San Suu Kyi also made the same call on President U Thein Sein and Commander-in-Chief of the Defense Services Senior-General Min Aung Hlaing to have talks on camly implementing the desire of the people expressed through the general election.

Election result show that in the Nov. 8 general election, the NLD dominates the absolute majority of the parliamentary seats which is strong enough to form government independently under the constitution.

Suu Kyi herself also won as a representative re-elected to the House of Representatives (Lower House) of the next parliament.

Under the constitution, Suu Kyi is restricted to become President due to her family status which involves foreign citizenship.

Despite possessing the rights and decision to nominate a president of the new term of government, the NLD is yet to disclose the person selected for the presidency.