Yangon, Sept 30: Myanmar president Thein Sein has said, he would accept Aung San Suu Kyi as president if the people vote for her He however said, the will of the people would be respected whoever they chose in an election due in 2015.
Thein Sein, a former leader of the military junta that ruled Myanmar for decades, was giving an interview on BBC's Hardtalk programme.
Two days ago while speaking at the UN General Assembly, Thein Sein congratulated Suu Kyi on receiving the US Congressional Gold Medal.
"Whether she will become a leader of the nation depends on the will of the people. If the people accept her, then I will have to accept her," he said.
"There isn't any problem between me and Aung San Suu Kyi. We are working together."
But he added that the army, which retains many of the seats in parliament, will continue to play a central role in the country's politics.
Ms Suu Kyi was kept under house arrest for 15 years and repeatedly denounced by the former regime.
Thein Sein's remarks this week have been the warmest from Myanmar's political leadership since the junta was formally dissolved in March 2011.
Aung San Suu Kyi was feted on a recent trip to the US But Myanmar still faces many problems, including a recent outbreak of fighting between Muslim Rohingya people and Buddhist Rakhine people.
The president has repeatedly pledged to end internal strife, but neither he nor Ms Suu Kyi have provided a possible solution to the problems in Rakhine state.
Meanwhile, the president also renewed his appeal for economic sanctions placed on his country to be lifted.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has already said the US would ease its import ban on Burmese goods.
Many other targeted measures have already been lifted by the US and other Western countries.
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