Reform talks progressing, says Myanmar

Myanmar says talks with Aung San Suu Kyi are progressing

HANOI, Vietnam -- Myanmar's foreign minister insists that landmark talks with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi are making progress and says Western sanctions would only push the country towards poverty, not democracy.

In an interview with Reuters in Hanoi, where he was attending a ministerial summit, Win Aung dismissed fears that delicate negotiations with Nobel Peace Prize winner Suu Kyi were stalled.

"Now the atmosphere is good," he said. "Now we are moving forward. The process has started. We are patient, we are cautious, and yes, we are optimistic."

Although the international community welcomed the start of talks with Suu Kyi, patience is running out and the world wants signs of progress.

In Hanoi this week, the European Union, Japan and Australia told Myanmar it had to make further reforms if it wanted to shake off its status as a pariah state.

Win Aung said the process of reconciliation could not be rushed as that could lead to national disintegration and anarchy.

"Like walking through a minefield, people will tell you to run faster, but you must be very cautious -- one step, one step," he said.

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"Our ultimate goal is to turn the country into a democratic state. That's what we are for."

He said that before Myanmar could embrace democracy, it first had to build its economy. But Western nations have told Yangon they will not lift sanctions until they see political reform.

Win Aung said sanctions would do nothing to speed up the transition to democracy.

"I think the people from outside, especially the West, they are trying to deny us our economic development," he said.

"One question I would like to ask is -- will poverty, will poor people, be able to turn the country into a real genuine democracy?

"If they are so poor, and if they are deprived of good living conditions, and if they are starving, can we be coming towards democracy?"

Reuters contributed to this report.