Washington  - The United States plans to open dialogue with Myanmar in the near future but will not lift sanctions until the military regime takes "concrete" steps toward reform, a senior US diplomat said Monday.

Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said the United States wants to see Myanmar, also known as Burma, introduce democratic reforms and improve human rights conditions while signalling greater cooperation in confronting challenges associated with the proliferation of dangerous materials.

"If Burma makes meaningful progress toward these goals, it will be possible to improve the relationship with the United States in a step-by-step process," Campbell told reporters.

The Obama administration launched a review of the US policy on Myanmar shortly after taking office and concluded that sanctions alone had not made progress toward improving life in Myanmar, Campbell said in explaining the policy shift.

Campbell also said Washington had been encouraged by recent steps by Myanmar to help enforce UN Security Council resolutions aimed at preventing North Korea from exporting nuclear-related material and technology.

The United States has maintained sanctions on some industrial sectors in Myanmar and on the country's leadership.

"We will maintain existing sanctions until we see concrete progress towards reform," he said. "Lifting sanctions now would send the wrong signal."

Washington has been calling on Myanmar's military, which has ruled the country since 1962, to improve its human rights record, allow democratic reforms and release political prisoners, among them Nobel Peace Prize winner and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, ahead of a planned general election in 2010.

Campbell said the United States believes it's unlikely that the election will be free or fair, but should nevertheless begin discussions to persuade Myanmar's leaders to change.  dpa