IN one of his last acts as Lord Provost, Bob Winter has invited democracy campaigner Aung San Suu Kyi to visit Glasgow to accept the Freedom Of The City.
The Nobel Laureate and newly elected MP will leave her home in Burma to travel to Norway and the UK in June.
It will be the first time she will have set foot outside her country in 24 years.
Ms Suu Kyi spent 15 years under house arrest for her efforts to bring democracy to military-ruled Burma.
In 2007, the Lord Provost proposed she be granted the Freedom Of The City and it was awarded in her absence two years later.
Mr Winter, who leaves office in May, has now invited her to travel to Glasgow to accept the honour in person.
The Lord Provost's letter says: "I am writing following the parliamentary elections on April 1, which were a great triumph for yourself and the National League For Democracy and, above all, for the people of Burma.
"Now is a time to celebrate and the city and people of Glasgow are very pleased and honoured to send our message of congratulations to you personally.
"I also reiterate my invitation that when you are finally able to do so, you will be extremely welcome to visit Glasgow to receive the Freedom Of The City in person.
"You will be greeted with great hospitality and delight."
Mr Winter said he was proud he had been able to propose that Ms Suu Kyi receive the honour.
He said: "When the council debated the Freedom Of The City, I described Aung San Suu Kyi as a contemporary successor to the likes of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr Martin Luther King due to her commitment to non-violence.
"I quoted Dr King's definition that 'non-violence is a powerful and just weapon which cuts without wounding and ennobles the man who wields it. It is a sword that heals'.
"In this case, it has been a woman who has wielded the sword of non-violence with inspirational effect.
"She will obviously be in great demand from all who value and admire her wonderful and courageous work for democracy and civil rights and she would be especially welcome in Glasgow to receive the Freedom Of The City in person."
vivienne.nicoll@ eveningtimes.co.uk