“We recognize that Aung San Suu Kyi’s immediate priority since her release from house arrest is to focus her energies on consultations and dialogue within Burma, before embarking on international travel,” Harper in a statement said.

“We hope, however, that she will be able at the appropriate time to accept our invitation.”

The Canadian government has long called for negotiations in Burma to restore democracy.

In 1990, the Nobel laureate’s National League for Democracy party won Burma’s national election by a wide margin, but the military prevented her from taking office. She spent more than 15 of the last 20 years either in jail or under house arrest. Suu Kyi was freed on Nov. 15, more than seven years after her latest period of house arrest began.

Back in November, Harper hailed the news, calling Suu Kyi “an unwavering champion of peace.”

“Neither her trial nor appeal process were conducted in line with international standards. She was not granted due process and should never have been detained,” Harper in a statement.

Harper also noted that Canada had long called for the release of Suu Kyi, who was granted honorary Canadian citizenship in 2007.

The government also thanked NDP Leader Jack Layton for his work on the file, as he wrote the prime minister asking for Canada to extend the invitation to Suu Kyi.

In early December, Suu Kyi, whose mother-in-law was French Canadian, issued a statement thanking Canadians for their support during her ordeal.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has extended an invitation to Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who was freed from house arrest by the ruling military junta in November, to come to Canada.

The Canadian government has long called for negotiations in Burma to restore democracy.

In 1990, the Nobel laureate’s National League for Democracy party won Burma’s national election by a wide margin, but the military prevented her from taking office. She spent more than 15 of the last 20 years either in jail or under house arrest. Suu Kyi was freed on Nov. 15, more than seven years after her latest period of house arrest began.

Back in November, Harper hailed the news, calling Suu Kyi “an unwavering champion of peace.”

“Neither her trial nor appeal process were conducted in line with international standards. She was not granted due process and should never have been detained,” Harper in a statement.

Harper also noted that Canada had long called for the release of Suu Kyi, who was granted honorary Canadian citizenship in 2007.

The government also thanked NDP Leader Jack Layton for his work on the file, as he wrote the prime minister asking for Canada to extend the invitation to Suu Kyi.

In early December, Suu Kyi, whose mother-in-law was French Canadian, issued a statement thanking Canadians for their support during her ordeal.