By Martin Petty
NAYPYITAW, Myanmar (Reuters) - British Foreign Secretary William Hague welcomed a pledge by Myanmar on Thursday to continue reforms and release more political prisoners, saying such progress, if sustained, would lead to deeper economic and political ties with the West.
The two-day visit by Hague is the first by a foreign minister from the former colonial power since 1955, before the military seized power in what was known as Burma in 1962.
It has been made possible by the handover of power last year to a civilian government -- albeit one stuffed with former military men and backed by the army -- and a series of political and economic reforms since then.
Hague met Myanmar's foreign minister, Wunna Maung Lwin, and told reporters he had asked the government for concrete progress in four areas -- the release of political prisoners, holding fair by-elections, the resolution of conflict with armed ethnic groups and humanitarian access to conflict areas.
"I have assured him that if they do, there will be a strongly positive response from the UK and, I believe, the rest of the European Union," Hague said.
"The foreign minister has reaffirmed commitments that have been made to release political prisoners. He said the changes are irreversible and I welcome that way of thinking. I stressed that the world will judge the government by its actions," he added.
Political reform in Myanmar could pave the way for stiff economic sanction to end and lead to investments in natural resource development including oil and gas. Myanmar's neighbours in Asia, especially India, Thailand and China, are already rushing to conclude deals to build infrastructure.
POLITICAL PRISONERS
His trip follows one late last year by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who promised concrete support from Washington if Myanmar moved faster on political reforms.
Britain has maintained a tough stand on human rights issues in Myanmar but expressed guarded optimism after the release in October last year of 230 political prisoners.
But hundreds more remain in prison and Britain, the United States and the European Union has made their release a condition for lifting sanctions.
Just 12 political detainees were thought to have been freed this week among 900 prisoners freed as an Independence Day gesture. As many as 600 may remain behind bars.
Hague was due to meet President Thein Sein, a former junta general, later in Naypyitaw, the capital built in secret six years ago. He will travel to the main city, Yangon, and is due to hold talks on Friday with Oxford-educated pro-democracy leader and Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.
BALANCING ACT
The visit is a tricky balancing act for Hague, who will face criticism at home if he is seen as appeasing members of the former military regime slammed for its human rights record and brutal suppression of dissent.
Rights violations by the army are still reported from areas where the army and ethnic groups are fighting.
"Hague can't appear to go soft. The Burma issue has become a political football at home and if he's not forthright, he will be criticised," said Derek Tonkin, a prominent Myanmar analyst and former British diplomat.
"But there's a feeling that we have been battering away at the Burmese for 22 years and not go anywhere. Britain is very much under the influence of the Americans," he said, noting Britain's discouragement of trade, tourism and investment was far heavier than that of the EU in general.
British firms in the energy and financial services sectors in particular are believed to be interested in Myanmar, but Hague's visit is likely to be little more than a testing of the water before the EU holds its annual sanctions review in April.
"Hague could offer some small concessions but at the moment, he's there to deliver the message that lifting economic sanctions requires more genuine reforms," said Mark Farmaner, director of the UK Burma Campaign.
"Britain will be very careful. There's broad support for engagement, but I don't think they'll move too fast," he added, noting that reforms could take a long time.
Analysts said Hague could discuss inducements such as development aid or humanitarian assistance, which, if supported by Suu Kyi, would be more acceptable to activists at home.
She has shown a willingness to compromise in recent months, notably by agreeing to run as a candidate in an April 1 by-election after letting her party re-enter the political process.
Nyan Win, a senior official for National League for Democracy party, told Reuters on Thursday that the authorities had approved the party's registration.
(Additional reporting by Adrian Croft in London and Aung Hla Tun in Yangon; Editing by Alan Raybould and Ed Lane)
