Myanmar won a new diplomatic prize today for its dramatic political reforms, taking the helm of Southeast Asia's regional bloc despite warnings from some critics that the move was premature.
The one-time international pariah was formally awarded the rotating chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for 2014 at the end of the group's summit in the oil-rich sultanate of Brunei.
President Thein Sein said the theme of Myanmar's chairmanship would be "moving forward in unity in a peaceful and prosperous community".
The former general has earned international plaudits and the removal of most Western sanctions for reforms that include freeing hundreds of political prisoners.
Draconian media censorship has been scrapped and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy have been welcomed into parliament following landmark by-elections last year.
But the military and its political allies remain firmly in control of the country while religious violence and the continued arrests of activists have tempered optimism about the political changes.
Addressing ASEAN leaders in Brunei, UN leader Ban Ki-moon hailed Myanmar's "unprecedented reform process".
"However, I remain concerned about ongoing communal violence," he added.
Around 250 people have been killed and more than 140,000 left homeless in several outbreaks of Buddhist-Muslim violence around the country since June 2012.
Critics said the decision to hand the reins to Myanmar highlighted the bloc's wider disregard for human rights.
"Sadly, respect for human rights has never been an important qualification for being ASEAN chair," said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at New York-based Human Rights Watch.
