Nowadays, when I am participating in a gathering such as this, I feel rather awkward. I am neither fish nor fowl, neither fauna nor flora, neither a part of government nor completely divorced from it. Therefore, I am not sure how best to conduct myself. Given this "identity crisis", perhaps it might be better for me, instead of providing a deep and learned analysis of what is happening in Burma (that is, assuming I am capable of doing so), to relate my personal experiences to this distinguished audience.

I have been dreaming a lot recently; in fact, I have been dreaming on nine successive nights, a number which happens to be astrologically auspicious for Asians.

On the first night, I dreamed that Burma is at peace with herself.

I dreamed that a successful process of national reconciliation has taken place, not only between the SPDC and the NLD, but also between the present government and all the minorities, and that this process has brought about a much more open and representative system of politics and governance, characterised by respect of human rights, the rule of law, accountability, freedom and participation.

And I woke up a happy man.

For such national reconciliation would mean that the people of Burma are no longer fighting and killing one another, that now they all have a chance to work together to develop their society and economy, and that they can end their country's isolation and begin to make use of the international community's resources in their pursuit of a better life.

On the second night, I dreamed that Burma was at peace with the world.

I dreamed that national reconciliation has brought about conditions conducive to greater cooperation, both between Burma and the international community and between her and her neighbours, particularly her historic adversary, Thailand.

And I woke up a happy man.

I was happy because for so long I have wanted the ordinary people of Burma to enjoy the fruits of mankind's economic, scientific and technological development. For long I have wanted the ordinary people of Burma to have opportunities to interact with their peers in neighbouring lands, so that they can all learn from, as well as learn to cooperate with, one another. And for long I have wanted Burma and Thailand to turn their backs to the past and their faces to a common future.

Like 60 million other Thais, I was not born when the mighty Burmese army burnt Ayuddhya to ashes 240 years ago.

On the third night, I dreamed that Burma is turning swords into ploughshares.

I dreamed that her leaders at long last recognised the anomaly whereby one of the world's poorest countries had one of the largest standing armies and some of the most advanced weaponry in Pacific Asia, and began to reduce both the defence budget and the number of men at arms.

I dreamed that Burma is about to sell their MIG-29s back to Russia and that Russia is willing to buy them back.

And I woke up a happy man.

I felt happy for the ordinary people of Burma who will have more money spent on directly improving their extraordinarily difficult lives. And I felt happy for the ordinary people of Thailand, for our leaders will no longer have any clear and pressing rationale to buy more F-15s or revive their interest in purchasing F-18s, which would simply add a considerably greater burden to the rapidly escalating public debt.

On the fourth night, I dreamed that Burma has become a good regional partner, with a good sense of regional responsibility.

I dreamed that Burma is working very closely with her Asean partners to realise Asean's "Vision 2020", especially where the dream of having "caring societies" is concerned. I also dreamed that she is cooperating with her neighbours in resolving specific problems, which may have roots in one country's domestic conditions but have transnational, regional or international consequences, such as drugs, HIV/ Aids, migration, and trade in women and children.

And I woke up a happy man.

I felt happy for Asean because Burma is an important country and her commitment to the cause of regionalism can only make Asean stronger. I felt happy for all the ordinary peoples living on both sides of the Burmese-Thai border, whose livelihoods are no longer interrupted by abrupt border closures. I felt happy for the women and children, whose lives have become more secure. And I felt happy for the ordinary people of Thailand, whose government can now concentrate its efforts on addressing the demand side of the drug equation and no longer has an excuse not to achieve greater success in its war against this evil threat to humanity.

On the fifth night, I dreamed that Burma, while maintaining close ties with China, has good relations with all the major powers.

And I woke up a happy man.

For, while cooperation with China is a must and will be increasingly important in the years ahead, I have always considered a balanced foreign policy essential for the Asean countries, both individually and collectively: essential for maximising benefits and minimising costs in participating in global affairs; essential for restoring the bargaining power of Asean as a diplomatic community; and essential for building up the role of Asean as a force of reason and moderation in the international community, which may become more and more polarised by international terrorism and the West's responses to the threat thereof.

On the sixth night, I dreamed that Burma plays a proactive and constructive role in the international arena, both on her own and in collaboration with her Asean partners.

And I woke up a happy man.

For it means that Burma, the quality of whose foreign service is second to none in the region, is beginning to fulfil her diplomatic potential, which must be good news for both Asean and the international community.

On the seventh night, I dreamed that Burma is the next "Tiger" of Pacific Asia.

I dreamed that progress made in the development of Burma's tremendous human and natural resources, together with those of the three Indochinese countries, is helpful to push Southeast Asia once more to the forefront of the world's economic success stories.

I dreamed that an economically strong Burma can both act as a bridge between Asean and South Asia and help transform Southeast Asia into a bridge between China and India.

And I woke up a happy man.

On the eighth night, I dreamed that an economically strong Burma and an economically strong Thailand are becoming increasingly integrated through expanding ties of trade, investment and financial transactions, through the construction of a multiplicity of communication, telecommunication and transportation linkages, through the sharing of power grids, water resources and information technologies, and through the free movement of and exchanges among the peoples of the two countries.

And I woke up a happy man.

No more burning of Ayudhya.

On the last night, I dreamed that all these dreams are true. Then I woke up very unhappy indeed, when I realised that these dreams were just that . . . . dreams, not realities.

MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra