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(1) Myanmar enthusiastically involved in ASEAN activities
YANGON, 16 Feb - The ASEAN Leading Committee held its fifth meeting at the Office of the Commander-in-Chief (Army), Ministry of Defence, at 8 am today addressed by Chairman of the Leading Committee Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt.
Also present were Leading Committee members Minister for National Planning and Economic Development U Soe Tha, Minister at the Office of the Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Brig-Gen Abel, Minister for Foreign Affairs U Ohn Gyaw, Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Brig- Gen Pyi Sone, Judge Advocate-General of the Ministry of Defence Maj-Gen Than Oo, deputy ministers, Director-General of the State Peace and Development Council Office Lt-Col Pe Nyein and department heads, members of the ASEAN Economic Affairs Policy Formulation Committee and officials of the National AFTA Unit.
Secretary of the Leading Committee Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs U Nyunt Swe emceed the meeting.
In his address the Secretary-l said Myanmar's membership in the ASEAN will be one year by July. Myanmar would be found to be actively engaged in ASEAN activities even before its membership, he said.
He noted that Myanmar's active involvement has been evident at ASEAN meetings and in almost all the activities organized by the ASEAN. He also cited regular sector-wise functions of various committees formed under the respective ministries.
Myanmar's enthusiastic involvement in the ASEAN is more evident through its sending delegates to the ASEAN meetings and activities, he said.
He spoke of the need for those who had taken part in the meetings or ceremonies to report back not only on the meetings they had attended but also on the current social and economic conditions in the ASEAN nations and the way they sought solutions to economic problems. Moreover, he said, they had to make the world know political, economic and social changes in the home country.
He urged them to take note of preparations, displays and proceedings of the meetings they had attended in order that the country may successfully and smoothly host similar meetings.
He observed that since Myanmar youths have won first, second prizes in the essay, art, photo and song competitions organized by ASEAN nations, the thinking power and language skills of Myanmar youths is not below the standard.
He said the group opposed to the government alleged that education standard in the country is getting low, that the intellectual level of the students is on the decrease due to lack of government support in education and that teachers are not qualified. However, he said, good performance of Myanmar youths as such have made obvious that their allegations are false. More proper arrangements need be made to achieve greater success, he said.
The ministries concerned will have to honour and extend deserving recognition to successful contestants in various competitions, he said, adding only than will it constitute that the government is supporting outstanding and brilliant persons.
He also spoke of the need to include programmes to enable foreign participants to witness and realize the objective political, economic and social developments and Myanma cultural standard when they come here to attend meetings hosted by Myanmar.
The Secretary-1 called for discussions on Myanmar's active participation in the ASEAN activities.
Next, Minister U Ohn Gyaw reported on the ASEAN meetings he had attended and Minister Brig-Gen Abel on the meetings which dealt with economic affairs.
Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Brig-Gen Pyi Sone discussed formation of the Myanmar National Committee on Social Progress for functional cooperation and Country Report (Myanmar) Presentation on National Skills Training Centres for Out-of School Youths. Deputy Minister for Information Brig-Gen Aung Thein reported on installation and use of Internet at the Ministry of Information to have access to the Record Section which compiles the list of motion pictures and TV features of ASEAN nations.
Members of the Leading Committee then reported on the meetings attended by the respective ministries and those to be held in Myanmar.
Afterwards, Secretary of the Leading Committee U Nyunt Swe presented formation of the Leading Committee for Bangladesh-India-Myanmar-Sri Lanka-Thailand Economic Cooperation (BIMST-EC).
Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt dealt with points raised at the meeting and called on the departments concerned to promptly carry out tasks discussed at the present meeting.
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(2) Chairman of MIC receives Chairman of Myanmar Tractors & Trading Co Ltd
YANGON, 16 Feb - Deputy Prime Minister Chairman of Myanmar Investment Commission Vice-Admiral Maung Maung Khin received Chairman Mr A Mazumdar and party of Myanmar Tractors & Trading Co Ltd at his office this afternoon.
Present also were Minister at the Office of the State Peace and Development Council Secretary of MIC Brig-Gen Maung Maung and officials.
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(3) Need to step up fight against AIDS stressed
YANGON, 16 Feb - The Central Committee for Prevention and Eradication of AIDS held its meeting No 1 /98 at the Medical Research Department on Ziwaka Street here this morning and Chairman of the Central Committee Minister for Health Maj-Gen Ket Sein delivered an address.
Also present were Attorney-General U Tha Tun, members of the Central Committee, those of the various sub-committees and personnel of non-governmental organizations which are cooperating in the AIDS prevention and eradication activities.
Minister Maj-Gen Ket Sein said the Central Committee which was formed in 1989 has laid down guidelines for AIDS prevention and eradication carried out by the Health Department.
He cited rapid increase in the number of cases in HIV infection in South and South-East Asia. He said the WHO had estimated that over six million people in the region are infected with the virus while over 600,000 are suffering from AIDS.
After becoming a member in the ASEAN Myanmar has to fight AIDS at home and in cooperation with ASEAN members, he said.
He said the Health Department's AIDS eradication programme is extensively undertaken throughout the nation with the help of government and UN agencies. He said the programme covers very important tasks such as blood transfusion which is totally free from virus and constant monitoring on the rate of HIV infection and the spread of AIDS.
He said blood donated should be free from HIV virus. HIV tests alone would not be sufficient, he said. Proper checks are to be conducted to exclude those in window period, accompanied by measures to cause donor deferrals, he said.
He pointed out that 0.79 per cent of donors in Yangon were found to have infected with HIV virus in September 1997 compared with 1.45 per cent in Mandalay. The figure may be described as high in Myanmar where there is a considerable number of blood donors, he said.
Discussing the ill effects of AIDS, he said younger people lost their lives due to AIDS in some African nations and those countries were confronted with problems concerned with security and economic progress. Precautionary measures are being taken in Myanmar, he said. All those concerned should be mindful of the fact that AIDS is not necessarily a health problem.
He then called for greater efforts of departments, NGOs and well-wishers.
Afterwards, the meeting -approved the meeting minutes of the Central Committee's meeting No 1/94. Secretary of the Central Committee Director-General of Health Department Dr Hla Myint reported on the infection of the disease in the country.
A general round of discussions then followed.
The meeting ended with concluding remarks by Minister Maj-Gen Ket Sein.
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(4) Industry-l Minister supervises work at factories in Mon State
YANGON, 16 Feb - Minister for Industry-l U Aung Thaung inspected the site to build a marble slab factory in Mawlamyine Township, Mon State, yesterday morning.
Accompanied by Managing Director of Myanma Ceramic Industries U Than Shwe, Managing Director of Myanmar Foodstuff Industries U Kyaw Myint and officials, he urged personnel of the project to strive for its early completion to distribute marble slabs in Mon State, Kayin State and Taninthayi Division.
At a ceramic factory of MCI, the minister met the factory manager and staff and looked into their specifications.
The factory is manufacturing ceramic products for departments and foreign entrepreneurs in accord with their specifications.
It is producing 11-kv insulators and conducting research to produce 33-kv insulators.
The minister and party inspected process in producing insulators.
Later, they inspected production stages. They also inspected the ice and soft drinks factory and its branch.
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(5) Chief of Staff (Army) attends Military Band Competition
YANGON, 16 Feb - Chairman of Leading Committee for Observing the 53rd Anniversary Armed Forces bay Patron of Tatmadaw (Army, Navy, Air) Military Band Competition Chief of Bureau of Special Operations Chief of Staff (Army) Lt-Gen Tin Oo attended the military band competition at People's Square this morning.
He was welcomed there by Chairman of Management Committee for Observing the Armed Forces Day Commander of Yangon Command Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than, Chairman of the Leading Committee for Holding the Military Band Competition Vice-Adjutant-General Brig-Gen Maung Nyo, Director of Military Engineers Brig-Gen Win Aung Tint, Director of Supply and Transport Brig-Gen Tin Tun,-Director of Medical Services Brig-Gen Mya Thein Han, Director of Signals Col Aung Myint, Director of Public Relations Psychological Warfare Col Khin Aung Myint, Director of People's Militia and Frontier Forces Col San Lin and senior military officers.
He viewed military bands of No 77 LID, South West Command, Triangle Region Command and Yangon Command taking part in the competition.
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(6) National Convention Convening Commission meets
YANGON, 16 Feb - The National Convention Convening Commission held its meeting at the Meeting Hall of the commission this afternoon.
Present were Chairman of National Convention Convening Commission Maj-Gen Saw Lwin, Vice-Chairmen Maj-Gen Sein Htwa and Brig-Gen Pyi Sone and commission members.
Maj-Gen Saw Lwin delivered an address.
Various Committees reported on the National Convention.
Members of National Convention Convening Commission presented supplementary reports to the meeting which ended in the evening.
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(7) Ambassador of Japan calls on Minister for PBANRDA
YANGON, 16 Feb - Ambassador of Japan Mr Yoichi Yamaguchi, who has completed his tour of duty, called on Minister for Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs Col Thein Nyunt at the minister's office this afternoon.
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(8) English Proficiency Course No 1 (Advanced Level) concludes
YANGON, 16 Feb - English Proficiency Course No 1 (Advanced Level) of the Ministry of Commerce concluded at the ministry this afternoon, with an address by Minister for Commerce Maj-Gen Kyaw Than.
Present were Deputy Minister for Commerce Col Kyaw Shwe, advisers, directors-general and managing directors, heads of departments, course instructors and trainees.
The minister said the course was jointly conducted by the ministry and English Department of the Institute of Education and basic spoken English courses have been conducted for private entrepreneurs and personnel of the ministry.
He spoke of using their skill at respective places, increase of export and exceeding the targets.
Prizes are presented to outstanding trainees. The two-month course was attended by 29 trainees.
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(9) Ministry of Energy holds four monthly meeting
YANGON, 16 Feb - Ministry of Energy held the third four-monthly meeting for fiscal 1997 in Yadana Hall of the ministry this morning with an address by Minister for Energy Brig-Gen Lun Thi.
Deputy Ministers U Tin Tun and Brig-Gen Thein Aung, directors-general and managing directors of departments and enterprises under the ministry, directors, deputy directors, oil field managers, factory managers, sales managers, distribution managers and other officials were also present.
The minister urged them to work with added momentum, to strive to boost production, to be thrifty, to conserve un-renewable energy resources and to reduce the use of fuel wood and charcoal to prevent forest depletion.
Deputy ministers and officials presented suggestions.
The minister looked into their requirements.
The meeting ended with concluding remarks by the minister.
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(10) Minister for Culture receives Chairman of Home Affairs Commission of German Parliament
YANGON, 16 Feb - Minister for Culture U Win Sein received Chairman of Home Affairs Commission of German Parliament Dr Wilfried Penner and party at his office this afternoon.
They discussed political, social and culture affairs.
The minister explained to the visitor about Bagan, its heritage and renovations.
Present also were Director-General of Fine Arts Department U Tin Htoo, Director-General of Cultural Institute Department U Myint Thein Swe, Director-General of Archaeology Department U Nyunt Han and officials.
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(11) Fire Services Department holds co-ord meeting
YANGON, 16 Feb - Fire Services Department Head Office and heads of State/Division FSD offices held a coordination meeting at the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement this morning with an address by Minister for SWRR Brig-Gen Pyi Sone.
Personnel of FSD should take pride in their work, he said, stressing the need to form Auxiliary Fire Brigades in every ward and village.
Property lost in fire in 1997 was K 112.63 more than in the previous year and there were 63 more fire outbreak during the period than in 1996, he said.
However, there were 1,009 less houses destroyed by fire in 1997, he added.
He urged them to have good moral conduct and to work in accord with the principles, to take the 12 National Objectives and Our Three Main National Causes as work guidelines and to strive for the emergence of a modern and developed nation.
Acting Director-General of FSD U Aung Soe presented report on the second six months of fiscal 1997. Heads of State/Division FSDs presented progress of work sector-wise.
The meeting continues on 17 February.
Directors-general of departments under the Ministry of SWRR, directors of FSD, deputy directors and other officials were also present.
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