Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi is confident that political talks with the ruling junta will begin soon and is willing to ease her tough position on sanctions in return, one of her top aides has said.
U Lwin, secretary of Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD), told reporters that the 57-year-old Nobel laureate had dropped some of her objections to foreign aid to Burma as long as steps were taken to ensure the money was not misused.
"Concerning foreign assistance, Aung San Suu Kyi will not protest any foreign assistance that is really necessary and that will really benefit the people," U Lwin said.
"However, there must be transparency and accountability and independent monitoring of the assistance provided."
Ms Suu Kyi has long been a supporter of international sanctions on Burma, saying aid, investment and tourism should not be encouraged in the absence of political change. But NLD officials say she is now willing to see targeted humanitarian aid to the country, especially if the NLD can monitor how it is used.
Ms Suu Kyi began confidential talks with the junta in October 2000, but the discussions have yet to move beyond so-called "confidence building" to touch on substantive political issues.
United Nations special envoy Mr Razali Ismail, who played a key role in brokering the start of dialogue in 2000, told reporters at the end of his latest visit to the country yesterday that meaningful political dialogue would start "very, very soon".
Mr Razali also said Ms Suu Kyi had indicated she was willing to co-operate with the junta in some areas.