New Delhi, Jan 25 (IANS) Amid the democratic transition in Myanmar, Foreign Minister U. Wunna Maung Lwin Friday assured the international community that there will be “no turning back or derailment” of his nation’s road to democracy and that the reform process initiated by the year-old elected civilian government is “irreversible.”

Delivering a lecture on “Myanmar: A Country in Democratic Transition” at the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) at Sapru House here, Maung Lwin said the international community can, at this crucial situation in Myanmar’s transition to democracy, provide encouragement and support.

“The reform process that we have started is irreversible. There will be no turning back or derailment in the road to democracy,” Lwin told the gathering of former diplomats and strategic affairs thinkers.

India’s Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahmed chaired the session, with ICWA Director General Sudhir T. Devare and Myanmar ambassador to India U. Zin Yaw present on the occasion.

“The reform process will be incremental, systematic and dynamic. Our transition to democracy is indeed not without challenges. We are prepared and resolute to overcome all these challenges and continue our endeavour until we achieve our stated goal,” said Maung Lwin, who is on a five-day official visit to India.

President Thein Sein’s government assumed office in March 2011 following the first democratic elections in two decades in November 2010. Since then, the opposition led by Aaung San Suu Kyi has joined the democratic process and the leader of the National League for Democracy is preparing to contest the by-polls to the Myanmarese parliament in April.

“At this critical juncture of national transition, the international community can best assist Myanmar by providing encouragement and support. We are willing and ready to work hand-in-hand with the international community in our nation-building endeavours as well as for the development, peace and stability of the world,” Maung Lwin said.

He expressed his deep appreciation of his nation’s neighbours and friends, particularly India, for the “understanding and valuable support” in this vital period.

“We are still a very young democracy. Notwithstanding this, members of parliament have been fully exercising their democratic rights in parliament. The proceedings of parliament are transparent, robust and dynamic,” he said.

Maung Lwin also expressed Myanmar’s appreciation of the Western powers reaching out in the recent months and recalled the recent visit of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, British Foreign Secretary William Hague, both firsts in five decades, and French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe, the first ever.

“The US and the European Union have expressed recognition and support of the democratic reforms. Now there are signs that they are willing to review and reconsider to lift the sanctions and restrictions that they have unilaterally imposed upon Myanmar in the last 20 years,” he added.

Myanmar, he said, enjoyed good relations with both India and China, and was willing to play the role of a bridge between South Asia and Southeast Asia.

Referring to the reconsolidation process of Myanmar, Maung Lwin said Thein Sein had recently met Suu Kyi and they agreed to find out potential common grounds for cooperation for the interest of the country and the people, setting aside different views.

The Myanmar government, the minister said, had held out “an olive branch” to all national races armed groups and invited them to start peace talks, particularly with 11 nationalities that are still holding arms, and successfully concluded dialogue with 10 other groups, most important among them being the Karen National Union.