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"For the first time in memory the Burmese leadership has shown an interest in engaging with the United States and we intend to pursue that interest," Campbell told reporters at the State Department.
"We intend to begin a direct dialogue with Burmese authorities to lay out the path to better relations," Campbell said.
He said that the United States wanted to launch a "sustained process of interaction" after only sporadic contacts in recent years.
But he said that the United States would not immediately ease sanctions and would press for the unconditional release of democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, who has spent most of the past two decades under house arrest.
He said that the United States would talk to Myanmar about elections scheduled next year but for the time being was "skeptical' about the vote.
The elections would be the country's first since 1991, when Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy won overwhelmingly but was never allowed to take power.
"We will maintain the current sanctions until we see concrete progress," Campbell said.
"We will discuss easing sanctions only if they take actions on our core concerns," he said. He added that the United States was also concerned about the junta's ties with Myanmar's ethnic minorities.
Myanmar's junta has cautiously welcomed the Obama administration, which has also sought dialogue with arch US foes such as Iran and Cuba.
In August, top junta leader Than Shwe held first-of-a-kind talks with Senator Jim Webb, a staunch advocate of engaging the regime. Webb was on Monday in New York for talks with Myanmar's prime minister on the sidelines of the United nations.
Some Myanmar exiles have been outraged by Webb's effort to engage the junta, saying it provides a publicity coup to the regime without securing any progress on democracy.
Campbell said he would be personally involved in the dialogue and called for strong participation of Myanmar's neighbors, particularly fellow members of the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
He said that the United States would also press concerns about Myanmar's ties with North Korea amid suspicions that the two Western pariahs have been collaborating on weapons proliferation.
The United States and European Union have imposed sweeping sanctions on Myanmar, including on its key money-making gem industry, in a bid to secure the freedom of Aung San Suu Kyi and pave the way for democracy.
But Asian nations, particularly neighboring China, have continued trade and political ties with the regime.
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"We intend to begin a direct dialogue with Burmese authorities to lay out the path to better relations," Campbell said.
He said that the United States wanted to launch a "sustained process of interaction" after only sporadic contacts in recent years.
But he said that the United States would not immediately ease sanctions and would press for the unconditional release of democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, who has spent most of the past two decades under house arrest.
He said that the United States would talk to Myanmar about elections scheduled next year but for the time being was "skeptical' about the vote.
The elections would be the country's first since 1991, when Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy won overwhelmingly but was never allowed to take power.
"We will maintain the current sanctions until we see concrete progress," Campbell said.
"We will discuss easing sanctions only if they take actions on our core concerns," he said. He added that the United States was also concerned about the junta's ties with Myanmar's ethnic minorities.
Myanmar's junta has cautiously welcomed the Obama administration, which has also sought dialogue with arch US foes such as Iran and Cuba.
In August, top junta leader Than Shwe held first-of-a-kind talks with Senator Jim Webb, a staunch advocate of engaging the regime. Webb was on Monday in New York for talks with Myanmar's prime minister on the sidelines of the United nations.
Some Myanmar exiles have been outraged by Webb's effort to engage the junta, saying it provides a publicity coup to the regime without securing any progress on democracy.
Campbell said he would be personally involved in the dialogue and called for strong participation of Myanmar's neighbors, particularly fellow members of the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
He said that the United States would also press concerns about Myanmar's ties with North Korea amid suspicions that the two Western pariahs have been collaborating on weapons proliferation.
The United States and European Union have imposed sweeping sanctions on Myanmar, including on its key money-making gem industry, in a bid to secure the freedom of Aung San Suu Kyi and pave the way for democracy.
But Asian nations, particularly neighboring China, have continued trade and political ties with the regime.
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