A senior US official urged Burma's military government on Thursday to begin meaningful talks with the opposition and pressed the country's neighbors to increase pressure on the junta for a transition to democracy.
Scot Marciel, a deputy assistant secretary of state, reacted with caution to Burma's announcement that it would allow detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi to meet her party's officials Friday, the first such meeting in more than three years.
"We have to wait and see," Marciel said at the Foreign Press Center.
Suu Kyi, who is under house arrest, said she is ready to cooperate with Burmese generals to pursue national reconciliation. But Marciel said, "The regime has not yet said that it will engage in a dialogue.
"What we don't want to do here is get in a situation where we're confusing meetings for progress. There can be lots of meetings, but, if they don't lead anywhere, it's not progress," he said.
Progress, he said, would come only with "the beginning of the meaningful and time-bound dialogue that Aung San Suu Kyi has called for."
Marciel appealed to Burma's neighbors, including Singapore, India and China, to increase pressure on Burma.
"The regime in Burma has shown no signs of movement except when it's faced significant international pressure. So it's important for the entire international community to make sure that it is pushing the regime," he said.
Scot Marciel, a deputy assistant secretary of state, reacted with caution to Burma's announcement that it would allow detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi to meet her party's officials Friday, the first such meeting in more than three years.
"We have to wait and see," Marciel said at the Foreign Press Center.
Suu Kyi, who is under house arrest, said she is ready to cooperate with Burmese generals to pursue national reconciliation. But Marciel said, "The regime has not yet said that it will engage in a dialogue.
"What we don't want to do here is get in a situation where we're confusing meetings for progress. There can be lots of meetings, but, if they don't lead anywhere, it's not progress," he said.
Progress, he said, would come only with "the beginning of the meaningful and time-bound dialogue that Aung San Suu Kyi has called for."
Marciel appealed to Burma's neighbors, including Singapore, India and China, to increase pressure on Burma.
"The regime in Burma has shown no signs of movement except when it's faced significant international pressure. So it's important for the entire international community to make sure that it is pushing the regime," he said.
