"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."

"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."

"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."

"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."

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

"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."

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

"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."

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

"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."