Bangkok, Thailand ? Myanmar opposition leader Aug San Suu Kyi said Thursday that talks with military leaders about a transition to democracy should begin soon or hopes for immediate changes will fade.

Suu Kyi told The Associated Press there was no start date for negotiating with the generals who robbed her of power after landmark democratic elections 12 years ago.

The military placed her under house arrest in September 2000 before releasing her May 6 after 19 months. Previously, she was under house arrest from 1989 to 1995, during which she won the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize.

“I do not know, quite frankly (when talks will take place), but I certainly do not think that it should take months because that would be unfortunate,” she said. “It might have the effect of making some people skeptical about the process.”

She added, “If it were entirely up to us it would happen as soon as possible.”

The United States and the European Union discourage trade and investment with Myanmar to protest military suppression of democracy.

Suu Kyi said her National League for Democracy party, or NLD, will not change its policies regarding international trade sanctions until “we have started discussing these with the authorities over the negotiating table.”

The NLD still is formulating its positions for the talks, although one prime concern is obtaining the release of political prisoners, she said.

About 290 political prisoners, mostly from the NLD, have been released since reconciliation talks began in October 2000, but human rights groups say about 1,500 more remain jailed.

The 56-year-old opposition leader began those secret talks a month after being detained for defying a government travel ban.

During her confinement, she skipped her British husband’s funeral because she feared banishment from her homeland.

After her release, Suu Kyi said both sides agreed that the “confidence-building stage” was over and looked forward to “a more significant phase in our dealings.”

Myanmar has lived under military rule since 1962, when former dictator Ne Win took power in a coup.

In 1988, the military launched a bloody crackdown on widespread pro-democracy demonstrations. Suu Kyi’s NLD swept to victory in 1990 elections, but the results never were recognized by the military.