I don’t want Burma to be a basket case forever.

I have been free for more than a month. Some people may think that that is long enough. Others may think that that is not quite long enough.

I had an opportunity to meet some members of the public, which I have been doing in Rangoon, too. It was very educational for me.

I was very touched, pleased and at the same time rather saddened by how sensitive the young people are to the need to build up a future.

Once serious political dialogue has begun, the international community can assume that we have achieved genuine progress along the road to real democratisation.

I was surprised by the response of young people because there is a perception that those younger than the 1988 generation are not interested in politics.

We always think that everybody can do a little bit more, if not a lot more.

I don’t think you can say that the talks between us and the military have not yet resumed. I think you could say that dialogue has not yet started.

Whatever help we may want from the international community now or in the future, we want to make sure that this help is tailored to help our people to help themselves.

I saw many aspects of the country which I needed to see in order that I might know what we need to do.

When we think of the state of the economy, we are not thinking in terms of money flow. We are thinking in terms of the effect on everyday lives of people.

There is so much that we need to do for our country. I don’t think that we can afford to wait.

Sanctions and boycotts would be tied to serious political dialogue.

We are not out to boast that there is so much percentage of growth per year. Our real concern is how it affects the lives of people, the future of our country.

We want to empower our people; we want to strengthen them; we want to provide them with the kind of qualifications that will enable them to build up their own country themselves.

A more significant phase should mean serious political dialogue.

We will not change in matters of policy until such time as dialogue has begun.

Confidence-building is not something that can go on forever. If it goes on forever then it becomes counterproductive.

I am very hopeful that there will be significant political change. I would not like to put too definite a time frame with regard to political change.