YANGON (APP) - President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday conferred Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Award for Democracy on opposition leader of Myanmar Aung San Suu Kyi.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Aseefa Bhutto Zardari and high-ranking officials were present at the ceremony. On behalf of the President, Aseefa Bhutto presented the award to Suu Kyi in a special investiture ceremony held at her residence.
Speaking on the occasion, the President said he had the pleasure and honour to meet today a great symbol of democracy and human rights. “Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has been a source of inspiration for millions around the world,” he said adding, “My late wife Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto held her in high esteem. She called her a brave inspiration to us all.”
While conferring the award, he said: “As recognition of her courage and strength and her contribution to democracy I have great pleasure in conferring on her the Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Award for Democracy.”
“We are honoured that she has accepted the award. The world is witnessing today the culmination of an amazing journey undertaken by Daw Suu,” he remarked.
President Zardari said Myanmar is seeing a remarkable transformation as it is witnessing the coming together of an entire nation to realise the ideal of peace and democracy.
He said Suu Kyi has adopted the path of change through peace and reconciliation.
“My late wife Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto also chose this path. In fact she wrote her last book on the theme of Reconciliation. We in Pakistan are proud to follow the footsteps of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto.”
The President said reconciliation, not revenge, is the way to move forward and this indeed is the way of great nations.
He said during his meeting with President of Myanmar Thein Sein on Tuesday he congratulated him at the pace and scope of the democratisation process.
“Today I applaud Daw Suu for her role in the success of this process. I have told her as I told President Sein that Pakistan will be a partner and friend of Myanmar as it moves forward in this journey.”
He said: “The people of Pakistan, Madam Suu, have great respect for you and your country. We wish you and the people of Myanmar success in the incredible and irreversible course of democracy that you have embarked upon.”
In her brief remarks, Aung San Suu Kyi thanked President Zardari and his children for coming all the way from Pakistan to honour her with an award.
Earlier, the two leaders held a meeting and discussed bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual concern.
The President who arrived in Yangon from Naypyidaw was received by Chief Minister of Yangon at the Yangon International Airport.
Later, President Zardari visited mausoleum of last Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar. He also donated $50,000 to the caretaker committee of the mausoleum.