“We are here today to remind the world of her courage and of the strength of this woman who has been unceasingly fighting for the freedom of her people,” said a text read by Northern Ireland peace campaigner Mairead Corrigan Maguire.

Suu Kyi, 63, who won the Nobel prize in 1991, has been detained for most of the past two decades, mostly isolated from the outside world, only receiving visits from her doctor and lawyer.

Maguire was meeting in Paris with fellow Nobel peace prize winners Betty Williams and John Hume of Northern Ireland, F.W. de Klerk of South Africa and Lech Walesa of Poland.

Together, they called on European leaders and institutions and the United Nations to “do their utmost to achieve the immediate release of Aung San Suu Kyi and all other political prisoners.”

They also urged world leaders to “force the Burma regime to start a peaceful reconciliation process in order to restore democracy and respect for fundamental human rights in this country.”

In their declaration, the laureates voiced concern that the drive for reconciliation launched in Myanmar by the United Nations after the political unrest of September 2007, was at a standstill.

“We feel at risk of losing a precious opportunity for peace in Burma,” they said.

Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, whose foundation co-organized the Paris event but who was unable to attend for medical reasons, sent a message voicing his support for a global campaign in favor of Suu Kyi’s release.

Irish rocker-turned-activist Bono, speaking after receiving an annual peace award from the laureates for his global crusade to tackle poverty and disease, paid tribute to Suu Kyi in her absence.

“We should acknowledge the Nobel laureate who should be here, but is not here. That is Aung San Suu Kyi,” said the U2 frontman, whose 2001 single “Walk On” was dedicated to the Myanmar democracy icon.

Last week, more than 100 former leaders wrote to U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon, urging him to travel to Myanmar to secure the release of Suu Kyi and other political prisoners.

But the U.N. secretary general has ruled out such a visit and expressed frustration at the military regime’s failure to take steps toward dialogue with the opposition.