NEWS - Myanmar and Russia Sign Cult

[Rangoonp@xxxxxxx]

Subject: NEWS - Myanmar and Russia Sign Cultural Agreement.

Myanmar and Russia Sign Cultural Agreement.

               Itar-Tass
               25-MAY-99

               XIANGGANG (HONGKONG), May 25 (Itar-Tass) - Myanmar
               and Russia have signed an accord on cultural cooperation.
               According to the reports received from Yangown on
               Tuesday, the document was signed by Deputy Minister for
               National Planning and Economic Development
               Brigadier-General Saw Tun and Russian ambassador to
               Myanmar Gleb Ivashchentsov. Agreement to promote
               bilateral cultural relations was reached in principle
back in
               1996. 

               Diplomatic relations between the two countries were
               established in 1948. Moscow recognised Myanmar (which
               was then called Burma) a month after it became
               independent. In their messages of congratulations,
               exchanged on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of
               diplomatic relations, which was marked in 1998, the
leaders
               of the two countries went on record for the all-round
               development of their contacts and cooperation. 

               It is also reported that a protocol was signed on regular
               consulations between the foreign ministries of the two
               countries. 

               kli/ast