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News and Views from Myanmar Vol. No
Subject: News and Views from Myanmar Vol. No.35
NEWS AND VIEWS FROM MYANMAR
Vol- 1 No-35
1. INTERNAL DEVELOPMENTS
- ASEAN Heads of Mission briefed on actual situation
in Myanmar
- Myanmar Steps up fighting against narcotic drugs
- Secretary 3 Lt-Gen Win Myint points out for peace
and development in Kayin State
- Joint Meeting on Roll Back Malaria
2. FOREIGN RELATIONS
- Goodwill visit of Chief of Defence Forces of
Malaysian Armed Forces Headquarters
- Strengthening ties with Lao People's
Democratic Republic
- Diplomatic relations with Croatia
- Ambassador U Nyunt Tin accredited to Canada
3. GENERAL NEWS
- Seminar on Tobacco Free Initiative
- Seminar on AFTA Process held in Mandalay
*****
1. INTERNAL DEVELOPMENTS
- ASEAN Heads of Mission briefed on actual situation
in Myanmar
A briefing on the actual situation in the Union of
Myanmar was held at 10 am September 7, 1999 for
the ASEAN Heads of Mission in Yangon at the Wun
Zin Min Yaza Hall, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Present at the occasion were Minister of Foreign
Affairs U Win Aung, Deputy Minister U Khin Maung
Win, the Dean of Diplomatic Corps Ambassador Mr.
Ly Bonkham of the Lao People's Democratic Republic
and Ambassadors and Charges d' Affairs from
Brunei, Cambodia,Indonesia, Malaysia, the
Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam as
well as Director-Generals and responsible
officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
At the briefing, Deputy Minister U Khin Maung
Win stated that following the failure to create
unrest during the 10th anniversary of the Four 8s
last year, subversive elements within and outside
the country, in collusion with some NLD members,
were again trying to instigate unrest. Radio
stations like VOA, BBC, RFA, DVB and some western
media were also giving extensive coverage almost
every day to those subversive activities.
However, these efforts would be in vain. The
people of Myanmar do not wish to see a repeat of
the anarchic conditions of 1988. Neither do they
want to see anything that would affect the
existing conditions of peace, tranquility and
progress in the nation. As the Heads of Mission
were able to witness at first hand, the situation
in the country remained peaceful and stable. The
Government however would take severe and effective
action against anyone disturbing peace and law and
order of the nation. There had also been
instances of foreigners intervening in the
internal affairs of Myanmar. As the Heads of
Mission were aware, action had to be taken against
one James Mawdsley, a British national, for trying
to incite unrest. He concluded by saying that
Myanmar would never allow any nation to interfere
in its internal affairs.
Afterwards, Deputy Minister U Khin Maung Win
replied to questions raised by the various Heads
of Mission. The Heads of Mission then viewed the
various documents and articles seized from
subversive elements.
---------------------
- Myanmar Steps up fighting against narcotic drugs
After assuming the duties of State, the
Tatmadaw has been carrying out the task of
elimination of narcotic drugs as a national duty.
In 1989, the Central Committee for Drug Abuse
Control was reorganized. A two-point national
strategy for narcotic drugs control was laid down.
They are: -- to designate narcotic drug
eradication and prevention as a national
responsibility and to carry out this
responsibility with added momentum, and to
gradually eliminate poppy cultivation by raising
the standard of living of the national races in
the border areas. Three tactics of supply
elimination, demand elimination and law
enforcement are employed to implement these
strategies.
A 15-year project for the total elimination of
opium cultivation has been laid down and is being
implemented. That project will cover the period
from 1999-2000 to 2000-2014. The baseline data
collection projects on poppy cultivation and drug
addicts that are necessary for the 15-year project
are being implemented in the whole country,
starting from 1 January 1998. During the 15-year
term, a total of over US$ 5.6 billion will be
spent on road and bridge construction,
agriculture, livestock, education, communication,
energy, health, trade and rehabilitation sectors.
The project term can be reduced if there is
adequate supply of international and external
assistance in technology and modern equipment.
In implementing the 15-year project, three
methods are used. They are: -- to enlighten the
producer and abuser of narcotic drugs on their
belief, their conviction and psychological make-up
for the better, to facilitate accessibility and
communication between those national races on the
highlands and those in other regions, and to
develop the socio-economic condition of the
national races in the border areas. The three
methods constitute the basis for the betterment of
socio-economic life of the national races in the
border areas. Due to the cooperative efforts,
poppy cultivation could be wiped out almost
totally in Kachin State. Arrangements are in
progress to declare the entire Mongkoe region and
the entire Wa regions as opium free zones in 2000
and 2005 respectively. In Myanmar, it is
imperative for all the national races to make
great efforts and to join in the fight for the
total elimination of narcotic drugs.
---------------
- Secretary 3 Lt-Gen Win Myint points out for
peace and development in Kayin State
The State Peace and Development Council has
been implementing a wide range of projects
throughout the country to bring about harmonious
Development of all the 14 States and Divisions.
The Government has been making all arrangements to
turn the agriculture sector into a mechanized one
and striving for parallel progress of the
agriculture and industrial sectors. It is also
concentrating on development of human resources.
Accordingly, much progress has been made in many
areas which are enjoying the taste of peace and
tranquillity. Recently, Secretary 3 of the State
Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Win Myint
visited the Kayin State and he expressed that
Kayin State is also rich in natural resources;
there are many acres of arable land; local people
are industrious; The region will develop if there
prevails peace and tranquillity. However, Kayin
State is different from other states so that
regional profits cannot be implemented as much as
desired. He also pointed out that the obvious
reason is that insurgency has not yet come to an
end totally in the region. The KNU insurgents led
by Nga Mya are doing destructive acts in the
region. The only way to bear fruit in full in
Kayin State is that it will be necessary for the
Tatmadaw and local people to eliminate those
remnants obstructing the region's road to
development.
-----------------
- Joint Meeting on Roll Back Malaria
Malaria is the major health problem in the
South-East Asian region. Thus, all the nations in
the region should seek effective solution to it.
With the intention of solving that health
problem, Joint Meeting on Roll Back Malaria was
held from 1 September to 3 September at the Summit
Parkview Hotel in Yangon with the participation of
officials of the South-East Asian nations and
representatives of nations in the Mekong region -
Myanmar, Thailand, Lao People's Democratic
Republic, Vietnam, Cambodia and the People's
Republic of China.
At the opening ceremony of the meeting,
Minister for Health Maj-Gen Ket Sein gave an
address pointing out the reasons for the
re-emergence of Malaria. He also said it is
through cooperation of neighboring nations that
the major health problem can be solved. With a
view to facilitating that cooperation, Roll Back
Malaria Project has been drawn and is being
implemented.
*************************
FOREIGN RELATIONS
- Goodwill visit of Chief of Defence Forces of
Malaysian Armed Forces Headquarters
Chairman of the State Peace and Development
Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services
General Than Shwe received Chief of Defence Forces
of Malaysian Armed Forces Headquarters General Tan
Sri Dato' Seri Mohd Zahidi bin Hj Zainuddin and
party at Dagon Yeiktha in the evening of 5
September. At the invitation of Vice-Chairman of
the State Peace and Development Council Deputy
Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services
Commander-in Chief (Army) General Maung Aye,the
Malaysian General and wife and party paid a visit
to Myanmar from 5 September to 8 September 1999.
On the same day, General Maung Aye and wife Daw
Mya Mya San hosted dinner at Zeyathiri Beikman in
honour of the guests. On 6 September, Secretary 1
of the State Peace and Development Council, Chief
of the office of Strategic Studies, Director of
Defence Services Intelligence Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt
received Director-General of Defence Intelligence
of Malaysian Armed forces Maf-Gen Dato' Azzuddin
bin Ahmad at Dagon Yeiktha.
During the goodwill visit, the guests visited
the Defence Services Museum, the National Defence
College and the National Museum. They also laid
flower baskets and paid tribute to fallen soldiers
at the Memorial to fallen Heroes, and the Myanmar
Gems Museum.
-------------------
- Strengthening ties with Lao People's Democratic
Republic
Myanmar maintains friendly relations with all
countries, especially its neighbors. Moreover, it
tries to further strengthen the existing cordial
relations through exchanges of visit of the Heads
of State and government, ministers and senior
officers.
In March this year, Secretary-1 of the State
Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt
and delegation paid a goodwill visit to the Lao
People's Democratic Republic during which he held
cordial discussions with Prime Minister of LPDR
Mr. Sisavat Koebounphan and other senior
officials. The Secretary-1 expressed his
appreciation of bilateral relations and his belief
that the two countries would further cooperate in
regional and international affairs.Mr. Sisavat
Koebounphan lauded achievements of the Government
of Myanmar and said that no one could disturb the
great tradition of bilateral relations.
Various ministers dealing with technical
assistance and cooperation in the mining sector
and the gems industry plus development in border
areas and cooperation in elimination of narcotic
drug were part of the Myanmar delegation.
In a move to further strengthen bilateral ties
of friendship and cooperation, Minister for
Agriculture and Irrigation Maj-Gen Nyunt Tin and
LPDR Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Mr.
Siene Saphanthong signed an agreement on technical
cooperation in agriculture in Tachilek on 1
September. Speaking on the occasion, Minister
Maj-Gen Nyunt Tin said it was important to
cooperate in agriculture between the two countries
in endeavoring for economic development through
agriculture.
The LPDR Minister expressed thanks for
technical assistance of Myanmar and for conducting
agriculture and irrigation courses for trainees of
Laos. He also thanked Myanmar for cooperation and
assistance in building small reservoirs and
integrated model farms, saying cooperation between
the two ministries further strengthened bilateral
relations between Myanmar and Laos. After the
signing ceremony of the technical cooperation
agreement in agriculture, a senior official level
meeting took place on LPDR side of the border.
Both countries, being fellow members of the
regional grouping, ASEAN, have similarity in
cultural and religious affairs. Leaders and the
peoples of the two countries have shown their
determination to live in peace and friendship
while expanding their fields of cooperation. This
will go on for generation to come.
---------------------
- Diplomatic relations with Croatia
The Union of Myanmar has now established
diplomatic relations with 80 countries of the
world and opened 33 missions abroad. Consistently
upholding its independent Foreign Policy of
peaceful coexistence of nations, Myanmar still
looks forward to extending its relations with the
rest of the world.
Since Croatia became a member of the United
Nations in 1992, it extended an offer to Myanmar
for the establishment of diplomatic relations. On
3 September 1999, Myanmar and Croatia successfully
started the diplomatic relations at Ambassadorial
level as guided by the basic principles enunciated
in the Charter of the United Nations. Croatia is
the eighty-first country of the world to establish
diplomatic relations with Myanmar.
-----------------------
- Ambassador U Nyunt Tin accredited to Canada
The Chairman of the State Peace and
Development Council of the Union of Myanmar has
appointed U Nyunt Tin, Ambassador Extraordinary
and Plenipotentiary of the Union of Myanmar to the
French Republic, as Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary of the Union of Myanmar to Canada.
*******************************
GENERAL NEWS
- Seminar on Tobacco Free Initiative
As smoking is the major cause of many
life-threatening diseases, many countries are
taking measures to control smoking especially in
public areas. More and more countries designate
no smoking areas at public places.
In Myanmar, the number of smokers is
increasing day by day. The condition of smoking
has reached a alarming stage in terms of the
number of smokers, the amount of tobacco and age
groups of smokers. Thus, Myanmar is starting to
take tobacco control. In this situation, Myanmar
is engaging in taking tobacco control measures and
conduct Tobacco - Free initiative activities.
A Seminar on Tobacco Free Initiative was held
at the Medical Research Department on 4 September
1999 with the sponsorship of the Health
Department, Ministry of Health. In the opening
speech, Minister Maj-Gen Ket Sein said WHO
South-East Asia Office has been raising the
momentum of taking tobacco control measures in the
region for three years, and WHO has just started
implementing Tobacco-Free Initiative Project to
speed up efforts in carrying out anti-smoking
activities. He also emphasized the increasing
number of smokers in Myanmar with the help of the
figures shown by surveys. After the occasion,
participants joined in the discussion on the
disadvantages of smoking.
--------------------------
- Seminar on AFTA Process held in Mandalay
Seminar on AFTA Process cosponsored by the
Sasakawa Peace Foundation and Myanmar Institute of
Strategic and International Studies with the
cooperation of the Mandalay Division Peace and
Development Council was held in Mandalay, former
capital of Myanmar, from 30 to 31 August 1999.
The Seminar was aimed to facilitate Myanmar
integration into ASEAN and to disseminate
information on AFTA process up to the grass root
level. It was opened with addresses by Maj. Gen
Ye Myint, Member of the State Peace and
Development Council, Chairman of the Mandalay
Division Peace and Development, and Brig. General
D.O. Abel, Minister at the office of the Chairman
of the State Peace and Development Council. The
Seminar was attended by 150 participants from
government departments, media, academic
institutions, and private sector. General
overviews on ASEAN Cooperation, Basic Concepts of
ASEAN Economic Agreement and Common Effective
Preferrential Tariff Scheme and Malaysian
Experience in implementation of AFTA were
discussed by officials from the Departments of
ASEAN Affairs, the National AFTA Unit, foreign and
local resource persons. It is learnt that similar
seminar will be held in Yangon in October this
year.
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