UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon waves as he arrives for a bilateral meeting on the world鈥檚 humanitarian crises with Swiss Peter Maurer (no pictured), President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, ICRC, at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2015. Keystone via AP
UNITED NATIONS, United States鈥擴N Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon congratulated Myanmar鈥檚 Aung San Suu Kyi Thursday on her party鈥檚 election performance, but warned that 鈥渕uch hard work鈥� lay ahead to build democracy.
READ: Aung San Suu Kyi wins seat in Myanmar vote
Ban described Sunday鈥檚 poll as a 鈥渟ignificant achievement鈥� in Myanmar鈥檚 transition away from military rule, although he noted that minority voters such as the Muslim Rohingya were denied the right to vote.
However, 鈥渢here is much hard work that remains ahead on Myanmar鈥檚 democratic journey and towards making future elections truly inclusive,鈥� Ban said in a statement.
READ: Myanmar transition to democracy on track after Suu Kyi win
Myanmar has been dominated by the military for half a century through direct junta rule and鈥攕ince 2011鈥攂y a quasi-civilian government run by its allies.
But the balance of power is almost certain to shift to Suu Kyi鈥檚 National League for Democracy (NLD) following the most competitive election in generations.
鈥淭he people and leaders of Myanmar have it within their power to come together to build a better future for their country, a future 鈥� where no one is marginalized, vulnerable and discriminated against,鈥� he said.
The UN chief commended the military for accepting the outcome, describing this as 鈥渦niquely important.鈥�
He offered UN support to Myanmar to consolidate democracy and advance human rights.