Suu Kyi says key to genuine democracy in Myanmar is to ignore personalities and work together

UNITED NATIONS — Myanmar democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi says the key to achieving genuine democracy in the former military-ruled country is for longtime adversaries to work together and ignore personalities and her international fame.

Suu Kyi, who has been praised worldwide for her struggle against the regime, was asked Friday whether she was concerned about outshining Myanmar President Thien Sein’s efforts to put the country, formerly known as Burma, on the path to reform.

“I don’t think we should think about this in terms of personalities,” she said. “If we all want to achieve genuine democracy for Burma, we have to learn to work together and not think about our impact as personalities, either in our country or in the world at large.”

Suu Kyi spoke to reporters after meeting U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.