Myanmar President Thein Sein discusses with opposition leader

Myanmar media reported on March 2 that Myanmar President U Thein Sein had a private meeting with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi in the capital Nay Pyi Taw. The meeting focused on constitutional amendments and the upcoming general election.

This is the first meeting between President Thein Sein and National League for Democracy (NLD) leader Aung San Suu Kyi since March 2014.

Myanmar President Thein Sein (right) at a conference to discuss the signing of a nationwide ceasefire agreement. (Source: AFP/VNA)

The meeting took place in the context that Myanmar's parliament is proposing to organize a six-party dialogue - including the President, Defense Minister, opposition leaders, Speakers of both houses of Parliament, and representatives of armed ethnic groups - to resolve domestic political issues, especially amending the constitution.

Myanmar's current constitution, enacted in May 2008, includes a provision that is seen as preventing opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi from running for president. This provision states that anyone whose parents, spouse, or legitimate children are foreign citizens is not allowed to hold the position of president.

Ms. Suu Kyi's children are British citizens. Currently, the NLD and Ms. Suu Kyi's coalition are campaigning to amend the above provision.

In addition, there is another controversial provision in the Constitution that stipulates that one-quarter of the seats in parliament belong to the military.

The referendum on constitutional amendments is expected to be held in May 2015 and the general election at the end of 2015. Both the Senate and the House of Representatives have passed the law on the referendum on the draft constitution./.

According to VNA