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

In politics, you also have to be cautiously optimistic.

My top priority is for people to understand that they have the power to change things themselves.

We do need great change in Burma. We are trying to build a new society, a society where basic human rights are respected, and where our people enjoy all the benefits of democratic institutions.

Burma is located between China, India, and South East Asia. So it is quite natural that a country wanting diplomatic relations with our country would pay attention to who our regional neighbors are. It is not at all fair to ask a country to build relations with Burma but not take into account the situation in China. There is no way to think that taking the Chinese situation into consideration shows a disregard for Burma.

It is not power that corrupts but fear.

People ask me about what sacrifices I've made. I always answer: I've made no sacrifices, I've made choices.