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CNN Interwiews FM Ohn Gyaw
CNN interviews Minister for Foreign Affairs U Ohn Gyaw
YANGON, 29 July - Myanmar has been accepted as member of the ASEAN
on 23 July. Minister for Foreign Affairs U Ohn Gyaw was interviewed by
CNN at his suite of Sunway Lagoon Resort Hotel in Subang Jaya,
Malaysia, on 25 July.
The following is a tran-script of the CNN telecast of its interview U
Ohn Gyaw on 29 July:
CNN?s Maria Seressa spoke with Bumma?s Foreign Minister U Ohn Gyaw
about some of these issues.
U Ohn Gyaw: We cannot stay isolated. We have, in fact, stayed nearly
25 years in isolation.
What was the result?
We were left behind. It?s
for equal mutual beneficial objectives. One is that we will learn the
experience how to go about the successful establishment of economic
System in the country as well as our domestic stability could
contribute towards regional stability. These are the objectives. No
more than that.
CNN -ASEAN: delayed the membership of Cambodia when fighting broke
out. What signal does this send to your government?
U Ohn Gyaw: ASEAN?s attitude towards Cambodia is good-will. Of
the principal philosophy of ASEAN is constructive engagement or
non-interference. If any given country is not in need of co-operation
and advice, then it will be a constructive engagement. If that
particular country is in need of co-operation, then when the welcome
sign is there, ASEAN will help. That is what I see in ASEAN.
CNN: What is the situation of human rights in your country today?
U Ohn Gyaw: Human rights is a word used by people from outside. And
there are places like Human Rights Commission in Geneva and the
United Nations. Where do they get the information of our violation of
human rights? From the opposition, from the dissidents, from the
insurgents. When actually you come to visit our country, you?ll see
that we treat our people much more fairer than they treat them in the
CNN: Your government have been called the repressive military regime.
What?s your comment on that?
U Ohn Gyaw: The Armed Forces in our country have been the main
disciplined institution before the independence and after the
independence. So, the Armed Forces would like to hand over the power
of the State to the properly established and properly organized group
of people under the strong constitution.
from outside it would be seen that the constitution process is too
slow. And, of course, to us what our objective is to have real unity
among the national races. That is the reason why this particular
period as you asked is very important and delicate in our
CNN: What is your government?s stand on Aung San Suu Kyi? What role do
you see her playing in the future?
U Ohn Gyaw: When she came back she came as an ordinary person. Later
on, the situation in the country had given her certain opportunity
not her opportunity, the opportunity of the political parties which
were against the previous government, not the present government.
That was the reason why she emerged as a figure. And this figure was
recognized and promoted by the outside democratic circles. Of course,
we are committed, as I have said, to have this democratic system
whether she is there or whether she is not there. The system will be
there. There are certain elements with the thinking that without her,
there is no democracy, which is not true. With or without her, there
will be democracy. With or without dialogue, there will be democracy.
We are trying to build a system not with a person but with the people
of the country.
( THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR (Wednesday, 30 July, 1997 )