UN WIRE: How do you expect the recent visit by Mr. Razali to affect progress? Do you expect it to lead to resumption of political talks with the SPDC?

SUU KYI: Mr. Razali seems to be very optimistic about the outcome of his last visit, so I think we have to wait and see. Of course, in the past, he certainly has been able to help keep the process going.

UN WIRE: Are you optimistic about it?

SUU KYI: I'm a cautious optimist. I'm cautiously optimistic about everything.

UN WIRE: Has the SPDC said to you that it is interested in concrete talks beyond friendly discussions?

SUU KYI: We haven't had any talks with the SPDC since Mr. Razali left.

UN WIRE: Is it your impression that the SPDC is committed to democratization?

SUU KYI: They say so, and I think they assured Mr. Razali that they are committed to democratization. They've always said so, and we would like them to ... to keep them to their word.

UN WIRE: How would you characterize the SPDC's attitude toward political prisoner release?

SUU KYI: So far, the rate of release of political prisoners has not been up to expectations, but the last month, they have released more than they have done for some time.

UN WIRE: What do you make of their statement that they will only release prisoners who are not a danger?

SUU KYI: I don't think that political prisoners should be considered a danger at all, because I don't think political opposition in itself, political dissidence in itself, is a danger. It's how you handle the dissidence which will decide whether or not the situation becomes dangerous.

UN WIRE: Have you discussed with them the issue of release of elderly political prisoners in particular?

SUU KYI: We have always talked about the release of all political prisoners, including, of course, the elderly and the ill.

UN WIRE: Do you feel that the SPDC is treating the NLD as an equal political partner right now?

SUU KYI: I don't think the SPDC has got to the point of understanding that a strong political opposition is really the best way to build up a strong democracy. But I think they are beginning to accept that there can be differences of opinion without losing harmony.

UN WIRE: You made some comments on development aid during Mr. Razali's visit.

SUU KYI: All we've said is that we would be happy to cooperate with the SPDC on aid and assistance programs which will benefit the people and which will also promote the process of democratization, and the second part is very important.

UN WIRE: Is this as much of a change of policy on your part as it has been portrayed?

SUU KYI: No, I don't think so. We've always said that we are ready to cooperate with the SPDC and to talk to them on matters that will benefit the people and that will help the process of democratization. In fact, I don't see anything particularly new about Mr. Razali's statement. It's just a spin that people have chosen to put on it.

UN WIRE: After the announcement, the U.S. reaction was that it would hold off on further aid until it saw actual steps taken toward democratization. Is this in your mind a correct approach?

SUU KYI: I think so. After all, it is really no different from what we have said -- that the aid should be dependent not just on benefiting the people, but on aiding the process of democratization.

UN WIRE: Some people feel that the regime will milk every concession it can get out of the international community for as much as it can get without taking any steps it doesn't need to. Is this something that you are concerned about?

SUU KYI: Well, if this is the concern of the different people who are working for democracy, then they should make sure that it does not happen.

UN WIRE: Mr. Razali said after the meeting that he expected something important during the next year. Do you know what he had in mind when he said something important?

SUU KYI: I don't think I can speak for Mr. Razali. I think you'll have to ask him.

UN WIRE: How would you appraise his visit overall?

SUU KYI: He seems pleased with the visit, and he's an intelligent man ... so if he has reason for optimism, then I think perhaps there is reason for all of us to be a little optimistic as well.

UN WIRE: Have you expressed interest in meeting Mr. Mahathir next week?

SUU KYI: I've always expressed interest in meeting any of the ASEAN [Association of Southeast Asian Nations] people who are involved in matters connected with Burma.

UN WIRE: Do you know if you will be meeting him?

SUU KYI: I don't know yet.

UN WIRE: Do you expect that visit to yield any results from your point of view?

SUU KYI: I don't think we can make such predictions. I think we simply have to wait to see what happens. I don't think that we can say that one particular visit is going to make such a difference in the future of the country, but I suppose every effort will help.

UN WIRE: There has been some talk about you touring Southeast Asia. Are you planning to do some touring, or are you planning to visit Malaysia?

SUU KYI: No, no, no, I have no plans for the moment. I think that this is all just mere speculation.

UN WIRE: Do you see the non-Burman ethnic groups moving more closely to participating in the dialogue you hope to have with the SPDC?

SUU KYI: We have always said that when the time comes, ethnic nationalities must take part in whatever we discuss, because the future of the country is their future as well.

UN WIRE: I know that you've expressed concern recently about the report that Shan women had been raped by Burmese army troops. Is it your feeling that those reports are probably true, and do they seem to be symptomatic of broader practice by the Burmese army?

SUU KYI: I'm not in a position to investigate the veracity of the reports, but such reports are always disturbing, because we are a country made up of many, many ethnic nationalities, and it is very important that there should not be a perception that any of the ethnic nationalities are targeted in any way.

UN WIRE: Are you satisfied with the level of freedom that you now have?

SUU KYI: I've never been particularly concerned about my own freedom as such. This is not what we are working for. What we are concerned about is the freedom of political parties and the freedom of all the people of Burma.

UN WIRE: Are you concerned that you might be rearrested?

SUU KYI: This is not something that we ever think about, this particular concern. This is an occupational hazard if you're engaged in political opposition.

UN WIRE: Do you feel that the West understands the situation in Burma?

SUU KYI: I don't think anybody can claim to understand the situation in any country completely, but I think those who are truly interested and concerned have learned to understand essentials of the situation.

UN WIRE: What do you see as the proper role of the United Nations in this struggle?

SUU KYI: I think the proper role of the United Nations in Burma, as elsewhere, is to promote the articles of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights and, through establishing the universality of human rights, to bring peace to the world.

UN WIRE: Do you feel that they are adequately fulfilling that role?

SUU KYI: They have been trying, but if they had adequately fulfilled the role, there wouldn't be all the problems that there are in this world today. But on the other hand, I recognize that it's a very, very difficult role, and they will have to do a lot before we can get anywhere near the goal that we are aiming towards.

UN WIRE: What about the United States? What do you think the proper role of the United States is, and do you think it has fulfilled it?

SUU KYI: The United States, of course, has a particular role, because it is the most powerful country in the world at the moment, and I think they try to fulfill that role in the way that they think best, which is not necessarily what other people think is best. But these kinds of problems will always exist, and what is important is that there should be communication between different countries and they should be able to talk over their differences and come to a satisfactory, harmonious conclusion.

UN WIRE: What do you mean, the United States may be fulfilling it in ways that other people might not feel is the best way?

SUU KYI: The United States' perception of the role is not necessarily the same as other people's perception of their role. I think this is inevitable. You can't expect everybody to think the same way.

UN WIRE: Thank you.