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U.S. commends Myanmar for holding "peaceful, historic" election

Xinhua, November 10, 2015 Adjust font size:

The United States on Monday praised Myanmar for holding "a peaceful and historic election," while expressing concern about so-called some "systemic flaws."

"The United States congratulates the people of Burma on the election, and commend all of the people and institutions in the country who worked together to hold a peaceful and historic election," White House spokesman Josh Earnest told a daily news briefing.

He said that it was clear that for the first time ever, "millions of people in Burma voted in a meaningful, competitive election."

"And despite some structural and systemic flaws, we believe that Sunday's vote represents an important step in Burma's democratic reform process," Earnest said.

The U.S. government is also encouraged by public statements made by Myanmar's President Thein Sein and Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the opposition party National League of Democracy (NLD), encouraging calm and acceptance of the results, Earnest said.

Earlier results showed that the NLD won most of the parliamentary seats in Sunday's general election, estimated at more than 70 percent of the total nationwide. The result is yet to be confirmed by the election commission.

"It's important for all political leaders to work together to form a new government, and for stakeholders to help to ensure calm and pursue national reconciliation," Earnest said.

Despite the NLD win, Suu Kyi, whose late husband was a British, was barred from becoming president due to a constitutional clause banning anyone with a foreign spouse or foreign children from taking the position.

Earnest described the clause as one of the "systemic flaws," as well as another rule that stipulates that 25 percent of the parliamentary seats are guaranteed to the military.

He said it is already clear that Suu Kyi "has had a powerful voice in bringing about some much needed reform and change to the political system inside of Burma," but ultimately what set of official responsibilities she will have will be determined by Myanmar's people and government. Endit