NEWS - Myanmar Leader Returns from

[Rangoonp@xxxxxxx]

Subject: NEWS - Myanmar Leader Returns from ASEAN Summit Meeting

NOTE: Than Shwe stated that  "Myanmar today enjoys unprecedented peace
and stability and a firm and solid economic foundation is being built."
HOW CAN WE LET HIM CONTINUE TO COVER THIS UP ??!?!?


Myanmar Leader Returns from ASEAN Summit Meeting

            Xinhua
            17-DEC-98

            YANGON (Dec. 17) XINHUA - Myanmar leader Than Shwe
            returned here Thursday afternoon from Vietnam after
            attending the two-day Sixth Summit of the Association of
            Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Hanoi. 

            The meeting reportedly approved a number of documents
            aimed at bringing about an early economic recovery in the
            region. 

            Joining with other ASEAN leaders in calling for measures to
            restore the region's economy to its previous glory, Than
            Shwe, chairman of the Myanmar State Peace and
            Development Council and Prime Minister, expressed at the
            summit meeting the confidence that ASEAN countries will be
            able to overcome the present difficulties and that the
region
            will again rise up to resume its rightful position as the
most
            economically dynamic one of the world. 

            He reaffirmed basic fundamentals and the code of conduct
            as laid down in the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation,
            emphasizing that principles of respect for sovereignty and
            non-interference remain valid today. 

            He stressed the importance of agreement reached at the
            Manila First ASEAN Home Ministers' Meeting in December
            1997 when the ASEAN Declaration of Transnational Crime
            was signed, saying that Myanmar is willing to host the
            second similar meeting in Yangon in the coming year. 

            On ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), he said, Myanmar does
            not see any difficulty in meeting the AFTA goals within the
            designated time frame of 2008, looking forward to fulfilling
            some of the obligations in such fields as unprocessed
            agricultural products well in advance of the specified
period
            with regard to the Common Effective Preferential Tariff
            Scheme. 

            With a growing agricultural production and increasing
            availability of energy resources, Myanmar in not too distant
            future can become a reliable source for the region's food
and
            energy security without failing in its responsibility to
            contribute towards regional peace, security and prosperity,
            he added. 

            On the domestic situation, he said, "Myanmar today enjoys
            unprecedented peace and stability and a firm and solid
            economic foundation is being built." 

            Than Shwe also attended the meetings between leaders of
            the ASEAN and leaders of China, Japan and the Republic of
            Korea, major dialogue partners from East Asia. 

            He had separate deliberations with leaders of other ASEAN
            member nations as well as the three East Asian countries. 

            It was the first time for Than Shwe to attend a formal ASEAN
            summit after Myanmar became a full member of ASEAN in
            July 1997.