Myanmar's ruling military and pro-democracy Opposition said on Thursday they were preparing for a new round of talks following the release of Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest this week.The talks have been stuck in a ‘‘confidence-building phase’’ over demands for the Opposition leader’s release since they were brokered by the United Nations 18 months ago.‘‘The release of Aung San Suu Kyi cannot be seen as the triumph of democracy.We must step up from this stage to meaningful political dialogue,’’ the central executive committee of Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) said.‘‘We haven’t changed our basic policy matters for the time being. These matters must be resolved through talks,’’ it said in the two-page statement in Burmese language. The NLD said it would adopt a flexible stance in the talks, but had not given up its demands that the results of 1990 elections it won be recognised.The party said it also stood by earlier calls for foreign investment boycotts and still backed economic and aid sanctions while the country was ruled by the military.It also called for the unconditional release of all political prisoners. There are an estimated 1,500 political prisoners still detained in Myanmar jails, according to Amnesty International.Major-General Kyaw Win, vice-Chief of military intelligence, told reporters both sides were ready to move on, but did not say when the new round of national reconciliation talks would start.‘‘We have confidence in each other. That is why we will be talking.It has been agreed between Aung San Suu Kyi’s side and ours to carry out these matters (the talks) after coordinating,’’ he said.Kyaw Win said the two sides had agreed not to reveal anything at the moment. ‘‘But we will be able to tell you at appropriate times in future when the talks progress in momentum,’’ he added.Talks between the junta and the NLD began secretly in 2000.The NLD statement said Suu Kyi planned to travel outside Yangon in the near future to help organise party activists in other areas. A similar statement about her travel plans was made on Monday.Suu Kyi’s most recent spell under house arrest came after she made a number of high-profile attempts to travel outside Yangon in 2000 in defiance of travel restrictions. Suu Kyi’s first attempt to leave Yangon will be a test of how much leeway the military regime will offer her.Analysts say she seems to be taking a more conciliatory approach this time, trying to avoid actively embarrassing the ruling generals.
