The leaders of Britain and France Thursday marked the 63rd birthday of democracy campaigner Aung San Suu Kyi with an open letter calling on the authorities in Myanmar to set in motion a "fully inclusive political process", reported dpa.
The letter by Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown and French President Nicolas Sarkozy praised Suu Kyi's "exceptional courage and dedication to your people."
Her release from house arrest and freedom to participate in determining the future of Myanmar remained essential, said the latter, published as Brown and Sarkozy were meeting in Paris ahead of attending the European Union (EU) summit in Brussels later Thursday.
"We call on the government of Burma to set in motion, without delay, a fully inclusive political process which involves representatives of the full range of civil opposition and ethnic groups," the letter said.
It specifically "welcomed" Suu Kyi's readiness "to have a genuine and meaningful dialogue with the military leadership to find a way out of the current stalemate."
Bold initiatives and compromises were now required as the present situation in Myanmar was "neither satisfactory nor sustainable," the leader said.
They expressed concern about the humanitarian situation following cyclone Nargis and pledged to support efforts by countries in the ASEAN grouping to grant immediate assistance as well as developing a mechanism for longer term reconstruction in Myanmar.
"The success of the international effort will rely on the actions and conditions set by the Government of Burma," said the letter.
"We admire your strength in reconciling the hopes of Burma's many groups and dedication to the country's national integrity. We will not forget you or your people in this struggle," it added.