Myanmar is a peace-loving nation. The people of Myanmar love peace. They would like to see their country peaceful and developed, standing tall among the nations of the world.
The majority of people of Myanmar are Buddhists. Buddhism inculcates loving kindness, compassion and sympathetic joy for all beings - celestial beings, humans and animals large and small.
They lead simple lives and are content with whatever they have. They seek happiness. From childhood, they are taught to behave properly and to respect elders. They are also imbued with a sense of compassion for those who are less fortunate, the poor and the helpless.
They lived in a peaceful and bountiful land until the West discovered them and annexed their land to the British Empire. They became a victim of their own success and their country's strategic location.
In 2001, then president Jiang Zemin of China came to Myanmar on a state visit. The president, on seeing pictures of the Myanmar king and queen being taken away as prisoners by British troops during his tour of the newly restored Mandalay Palace, turned to me and asked: 'Foreign Minister, why did the British annex your country?'
I gave him a straightforward answer: 'Mr President, the British did so because they wanted to open a trade route from India to China through Myanmar.'
We lived under British rule for more than a century.
During World War II, Japanese forces invaded Myanmar. Why?
The answer: To cut off the supply route from India to China through Myanmar. We lived under Japanese rule for about four years.
When World War II ended, the Cold War began. Myanmar became the bone of contention for the big powers because it was strategically located between the two most populous nations of the world, India and China.
Insurgencies in the country were instigated from abroad. They were armed, trained and directed from overseas. National unity was threatened and the Union faced total disintegration.
During the present government's time, it has been able to solve problems amicably and peacefully. Seventeen armed groups signed peace agreements with the government. They are not tiny bands. One group is 40,000 strong.
The international media conveniently ignores this important fact and chooses to highlight the activities of remaining insurgent groups. The questionable behaviour of these terrorists is accorded more attention.
Myanmar today faces many challenges - restoring law and order, building national unity, alleviating poverty, restructuring the economy, working on the national reconciliation process and writing a new constitution.
Talk is cheap. Action is not.
It is one thing to criticise and adopt sanctions. It is quite another to ensure that 52 million people are well-fed, well-clothed and well-sheltered.
The enrolment in the universities today exceeds 770,000. It contrasts with the 130,000 students enrolled a decade ago. This speaks volumes for the work that has been done to promote education in the country.
Myanmar has tried to come out of the self-imposed isolation of the previous socialist government. It is trying to solve outstanding political problems. The problem involving Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is but one of many. If there exists sincere goodwill on all sides, the problems of the country can be satisfactorily resolved. It needs two to tango.
Putting all the blame on the government alone is not fair.
Threats and imposition of sanctions are counter-productive. Sanctions are blunt weapons. They do more harm than good. For many years now, all forms of development assistance have been denied Myanmar by international finance institutions.
Myanmar receives the least amount of official development assistance among the developing countries. This is clearly reflected in the statistical reports published by the United Nations.
Myanmar has developed relying solely on its own resources.
It does not pose any threat to regional or international peace and stability.
It does not possess any weapons of mass destruction.
It has never supported international terrorism. It never will. In fact, it has been a target of terrorism.
All those who have visited Myanmar can attest that the people of Myanmar are the most peaceful.
Why push Myanmar back into the shell from which it has emerged?