NAPYITAW, Myanmar, May 2 (UPI) -- Myanmar pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and 42 other lawmakers in her opposition party were sworn in as members of Parliament Wednesday.
Suu Kyi wore white roses in her hair as she stood with other elected lawmakers from her party as the speaker of the 440-seat lower chamber asked them to read the oath.
Asked as she approached the chamber whether the ceremony would be an important day for Myanmar, Suu Kyi said, "I think only time will tell."
The ceremony had been delayed a week by a boycott of the Parliament by the 66-year-old opposition leader and her National League for Democracy over the oath's wording.
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She and the party said they opposed the oath's obligation to "safeguard the constitution," drafted under the old military rule. They said they wanted "safeguard" changed to "respect."
In making the reversal, Suu Kyi said Monday she was not backing down but rather choosing to seek political changes through legislative measures.
"Our voters voted for us because they want to see us in Parliament," not to see the opposition lawmakers refuse to take the seats they won, Suu Kyi said.
She and the 42 other members of her party were elected in special elections last month.
The last time the party participated in parliamentary elections was in 1990, when it won 59 percent of the vote with a voter turnout of 72.6 percent. But the ruling military junta refused to recognize the results.
Suu Kyi met U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon Tuesday for the first time.
Ban, on a three-day visit to Myanmar to encourage democratic reforms, met Suu Kyi at her house in Yangon, formerly known as Rangoon, about 200 miles south of the capital.
He said she accepted an invitation to visit the U.N. headquarters in New York, but didn't give a date.
She is to visit Norway in June to make a belated acceptance speech for the Nobel Peace Prize she was prevented from collecting in 1991 because she was in detention.
Ban said he welcomed and respected her decision to compromise over the oath in the interests of the greater good.
"A real leader demonstrates flexibility for the greater cause of the people," he said. "I'm sure she'll play a very constructive and active role as a parliamentarian."
The U.N. chief earlier called a further easing of sanctions on Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, as he addressed Parliament.
