Q & A: How are the Myanmar talks going?

For four months the military government of Myanmar and pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi have been engaged in a private dialogue aimed at resolving their long standoff.

In the government's first interview on the subject since the talks started, Myanmar's Deputy Foreign Minister Khin Maung Win talked to CNN's John Raedler in Yangon.

Q: What impact will the recent death of the government's fourth highest official, Lt.-Gen. Tin Oo have on the government's dialog with Aung San Suu Kyi?

Khin Maung Win: Well actually if I may say, these are entirely two different things. Because of course we all felt the tragic loss of Lt.-Gen. Tin Oo. But at the same time, as I said, the government must go on. And in the case of the ongoing process with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi of course this will go on, because you know it was a collective decision of the leadership to initiate these contacts and it will definitely go on.

Q: Sir, how would you describe that dialog and where it's at right?

Khin Maung Win: As I said, we had initiated these direct contacts with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi since October. And you see, if I may say, there was an agreement on both sides to keep this in a confidential manner. So you know, as you will understand, that I'm not in a position to divulge the details. But what I would like to say is that we are quite satisfied with the way the ongoing process is going on and that it is going quite smoothly.

Q: A recent delegation from the European Union assessed that dialogue to be perhaps the most interesting development in Myanmar in a decade. Would you agree with that?

Khin Maung Win: Well you know, this ongoing process with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, of course, you must understand that one of the basic objectives and priority tasks of the government is to have national reconciliation, because we want national reconciliation with ALL the people in the country.

Q: And this process of national reconciliation eventually leads to elections and democratic government?

Khin Maung Win: Well as you know our objective is to have a democratic government and so we'll definitely you know have that in mind when we take on the national reconciliation task.

Q: Is there any timeframe or any deadline for these talks with Aung San Suu Kyi to come to a conclusion?

Khin Maung Win: Well at the moment I would not say there is any deadline or timeframe because you know we have to see of course how this contacts are going on, how the process is going on?

Q: And what about her situation now -- her state of detention?

Khin Maung Win: Well she is not, let me put it on record that she is not under detention. And I'm sure that you've read reports and I'm sure that you will recall that even the EU delegation who came here mentioned that -- of course they met with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi -- and they mentioned that she is quite happy with the present circumstances. So I think she is definitely not under any detention.

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