(1) Senior General Than Shwe receives DG of FAO, delegates of countries of Asia and the Pacific Region
YANGON, 23 Apr - Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Commander-in-chief of Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe received Director-General of FAO Dr Jacques Diouf, Tonga Prime Minister Mr Baron Vaea, Cambodia Minister Mr Tao Seng Huor, Fiji Minister Mr Ahilitoni Leweniqila, Iran Minister Mr Issa Kalantary, Korea Minister Mr Sung Hoon Kim, Lao Minister Mr Siene Saphangthong, Malaysia Minister Datuk Amar Dr S Hj Daud, Maldives Minister Mr Hassan Sobir, Mongolia Minister Mr L Nyamsambuu, PNG Minister Mr Tukape Masani, Samoa Minister Mr Solia Vaai Papu, Sri Lanka Minister Mr D M Jayaratne, Thailand Minister Mr Pongpol Adireksarn, FAO Independent Chairman Dr Sjarifudin Baharsjat, China Deputy Minister Mr Wan Baorui, Bangladesh Deputy Minister Mr Dhirendra Debnath Shambhu, Japan State Secretary Mr Tetsuron Yano, India Minister of State Mr Som Pal, Vietnam Vice-Minister Mr Ngo The Dan, Assistant Director-General of FAO Dr Saetatwo Hadiwigeno and Resident Representative of FAO Dr Prem Nath who are attending the 24th FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific, at Mingala Hall of the Pyithu Hluttaw building at 5 pm today.
Present together with the Senior General were Vice-Chairman of the State Peace and Development. Council Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) General Maung Aye, Secretary-l of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, Secretary-2 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Tin Oo, Secretary-3 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Win Myint, Deputy Prime Ministers Vice-Admiral Maung Maung Khin and Lt-Gen Tin Tun, Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation Maj-Gen Nyunt Tin, Minister for Foreign Affairs U Ohn Gyaw and Director-General of Protocol Department Thura U Aung Htet.
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(2) Ministerial-level Meeting of 24th FAO Regional Conference for Asia and Pacific commences
YANGON, 23 Apr - Ministerial-level Meeting of the 24th FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific commenced at Sedona Hotel this morning, with an inaugural address by Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, on behalf of the Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council and Prime Minister.
It was also attended by Prime Minister of Tonga Mr Baron Vaea, member of the State Peace and Development Council Commander of Yangon Command Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than, Deputy Prime Ministers Vice-Admiral Maung Maung Khin and Lt-Gen Tin Tun, ministers and deputy ministers of Bangladesh, Cambodia, People's Republic of China, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Fiji, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Republic of Korea, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Samoa, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam, Director-General of FAO Dr Jacques Diouf, senior officials, officials of the State Peace and Development Council Office, delegates to the conference, diplomats, officials of UN agencies, heads of departments, local and foreign media-persons, Bangkok Bureau Chief of TV Asahi Mr Kenji Naoi, AFP correspondent Mr Dunand of ROK and guests.
First, Director-General of FAO Dr Jacques Diouf gave a welcome speech. (Reported separately)
Next, Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt gave an inaugural address, on behalf of the Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council and Prime Minister. (Reported separately)
Dr Diouf thanked the Secretary-1, saying his inaugural address will give guidance to all the participants of the conference.
The conference began at 11.15 am.
It unanimously elected Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation of Myanmar Maj-Gen Nyunt Tin as chairman.
Members of the panel of chairmen were also elected.
It approved the agenda of the ministerial-level conference.
Dr Diouf reported on FAO's functions, implementing of future tasks laid down by the Summit Meeting, other accomplishments, different stages of the information sector, analyzing and dissemination of news modern information and information technology, functions of the basic-levels and the women's sector, cooperative accomplishments, agricultural investment, reorganization of FAO and reduction and abolition of centralized leadership system, budget and plans of fiscal 1998-99 and general situation of Asia and the Pacific region.
The conference adjourned.
Minister Maj-Gen Nyunt Tin hosted luncheon to the delegates at the hotel.
In the afternoon session, delegates presented implementation of tasks laid down by the Summit Meeting and discussed on SOM and nation-wise reports.
It continues on 24 April.
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(3) Household food insecurity due to poverty continues to be major challenge in region Economic fundamentals for long term growth, prospects of region sound
YANGON, 23 Apr - The Ministerial-level Meeting of the 24th FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific went into session today at the Sedona Hotel.
Following is the Director-General Mr Jacques Diouf's Speech:
Mr Chairman,
Mr Independent Chairman of the Council, Distinguished Ministers Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen
Five months ago, the FAO Conference met in Rome where it reviewed the state of food and agriculture in the world and the past and future activities of the Organization.
Although according to the latest estimates the overall world economy grew by a satisfactory rate of approximately 4 per cent in 1997, the food and agriculture situation was one of contracts. Agriculture production only increased by an estimated 1.1 per cent and cereal stocks are still below the security threshold. Furthermore, development aid has hovered in recent years at a nominal US $ 60 billion and has therefore fallen in real terms, while the portion of this aid earmarked for agriculture slumped from US $ 16 billion in 1288 to some US $ 10 billion in 1996.
Implementation of the Summit Plan of Action
FAO's activities in the previous biennium were marked by the World Food Summit held in November 1996 since then, several initiatives have been undertaken to implement the resulting Plan of Action:
In accordance with the directives adopted by the Summit, FAO has also encouraged the launching of "Food for All" campaigns to mobilize civil society. A number of countries have already initiated a process of national consultation to this effect. The "TeleFood 1997" operation that was broadcast by some one hundred television channels in over 70 countries gave 500 million viewers an added insight into the problems of hunger and malnutrition and laid the foundations of a system fir the raising of funds which-already this year will finance small projects of direct assistance to rural communities in developing countries, helping them boost agricultural production. As endorsed by the last Conference of FAO, TeleFood is to be An annual event to be held within the celebration of World Food Day. The next edition will be held from 16 to 18 October 1998 and will be larger in scale than last year.
Finally interagency cooperation for implementing the Summit Plan of Action has been put in place with the establishment of a Network on Rural Development and Food Security led by FAO and IFAD. The mechanism for monitoring the Summit Plan of Action has also been set up and the Committee on World Food Security will evaluate progress at its next session, as you will yourselves for the Asia and the Pacific region.
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(4) FAO Director-General stresses importance of finding solutions to increased productivity within framework of preserving natural resources and environment
YANGON, 23 Apr - Director-General of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization Dr Jacques Diouf, currently here attending the Ministerial Level Meeting of 24th FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific met the Press in the Ahlone Room of Sedona Hotel at 4.30 pm today.
He was flanked by Assistant Director-General of FAO Dr Soetatwo Hadiwigeno, Resident Representative Dr Prem Nath, Regional information Officer Mr Diderik de Vleeschauwer.
Local and foreign journalists led by Managing Director of News and Periodicals Enterprise U Tin Kha, foreign correspondents led by President of Myanmar Foreign Correspondents Club U Sao Kai Hpa, Bureau Chief of TV Asahi Mr Kenji Naoi and departmental personnel attended.
Dr Jacques Diouf briefed the journalists on the conference. He expressed his appreciation to the government and the people of Myanmar for the hospitality and perfect organization of the conference. He said the conference is attended by 135 delegates from 26 countries, 15 delegations are led by ministers and 11 by deputy or vice-ministers. He said there are also 30 observers, one observer nation, the Russian Federation, eight UN agencies, four inter-governmental organizations and 11 representatives of non-governmental organizations.
He said the conference discussed the commitment to cut by half the total number of people who do not have adequate access to food, which represented 8 million. He added that as the heads of state and government had fixed the year 2015, the number of hungry people should be cut half by then. He said FAO is working with governments of member countries in preparing strategies for agricultural development to realize the objective. FAO had prepared 1.50 strategies for 150 developing countries and countries in transition. He added FAO had started launching special programmes on food security including control of water which is the basis for agricultural production. He said it is also using modern methodologies to increase productivity in crop production and small animal production including aquaculture.
Constraints
The FAO Director-General said the organization is studying the socioeconomic constraints like elements relating to access to technology, to credit and to market, issues relevant to transport, storage facilities and gender who are benefiting from those programmes and who need the different components those. He said the programme is already operational around the world in 30 countries of which five are from this region. He said it is formulated in 40 more countries of which ten are from this region . He said he was happy to register in the framework of this programme not only bilateral support from countries like Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands Spain, France and Japan but also cooperation of international organization like the World Bank, the IMF, the Islamic Development Bank and FAO is now negotiating with the ADB and also with institutions of financial nature in the member countries.
Exchange of expertise
He said FAO has now the support of advanced developing countries in the framework of South-South cooperation and said he was pleased to mention that among the countries of this region Vietnam, China, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Iran and it is hoped that- very, soon Myanmar will also join this group of countries. This is very encouraging, he said, because this programme will allow the exchange of expertise among developing countries.
Dr Diouf said the discussions also raised the issue of fisheries which the organization believes very important as the large majority of agricultural production and of fisheries production and in the aquaculture area the largest part comes from this region. And therefore, more attention should be given to sustainable aquaculture development.
Aquaculture, he said, is already providing 15 per cent of total output in the world. He said the figure will rise to 30 per cent by the year 2010.
He said it was suggested to avoid deforestation, to redevelop re-afforestation and to fight all forms of erosions, be it water erosion, wind erosion and all elements leading to siltage and so on. He said the conference had drawn the attention to the problem of irrigation in the region, in many parts of Asia. He said all have been observing waterlogging and so on because of lack of adequate drainage system and adequate integrated system of irrigation.
The FAO Conference discussed issues of natural phenomenon that had negative impact, El Nino in particular, he said, adding it also discussed the issue of forest fires, the impact of this phenomenon on agricultural output and it had encouraged countries to have strategies of preparedness against this factor.
Sustainability
Afterwards, Dr Diouf invited questions. Replying to a question about environmental conservation asked by U Maung Maung of Jiji Press, he said he had mentioned environment in another terminology. He used the word sustainability. He said the point he made was all should use the Code of Conduct for responsible fishing. The main aim of the Code of Conduct is to ensure sustainability, to ensure protection of environment. When he spoke about land degradation and the need to take action against deforestation, the need to take action against erosion, against siltage: these are directly linked to protection of environment. Protection of mangrove areas, particularly in the field of fishing and aquaculture, they are also the issues of environment. He-said environment is at the centre of all the issues and it is important to use the natural resources for increasing productivity and production to be able to eliminate poverty and to improve the socio-economic conditions of the people. He stressed the need to find solutions of productivity. within the framework that preserve natural resources and the environment.
Answering the question asked by U Hla Htwe of Nihon Keizai Shimbun and Antara News Agency about the debt burden of developing countries, he said there are some institutions that -handle the debt namely, the World Bank, IMF the Paris Club and the London Club. He said those are the forums in which the issues are being discussed with a view to finding adequate solutions that are taken up not only in the framework of G-7 group of developed countries but also in the framework of developing countries G-77, G-15, and so on.
Replying to a question asked by Director (News) of News and Periodicals Enterprise U Hla Tun, Dr Diouf said FAO is already providing assistance to Myanmar in different areas, in plant production and animal production, in forestry, in fishery and in natural resources conservation. He said there are several projects, some of them directly under the UNDCP programme also in cooperation with the UNDP as a partner or UN agencies. Ha said he had told the government about the UN commitment to continue to provide assistance.
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(5) National Working Committee for Women's Affairs meets
YANGON, 23 Apr - The National Working Committee for Women's Affairs held its Meeting 2/98 at the Social Welfare Department today.
It was attended by Vice-Chairperson of NWCWA Dr May May Yi, member of NWCWA and Chairperson of the Subcommittee for Protection of Violence Against-Women and Rehabilitation Dr Khin Win Shwe, advisers Professor Dr Nan Oo, Dr Khin Sanda Win, Dr Tun Shin, Daw Yi Yi May, Daw Saw Mon Nyin, Secretary Director-General Col Sit Myaing and members of NWCWA.
Dr May May Yi delivered the opening address.
Col Sit Myaing clarified the Committee's accomplishment during the two months.
Then, the chairpersons and members of various subcommittees presented reports on progress of work, followed by a general round of discussions.
The meeting ended with the concluding remarks by Dr May May Yi.
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(6) Over seven kilos of opium seized in Nyaungshwe Kyukok (PangSai)
YANGON, 23 Apr - The members of defence services intelligence unit searched two boxes of slab-sugar f which were laid down OR the bank of Phaungdawbyan jetty in Nyaungshwe Township on 12 April morning.
The authorities nabbed U Kyaw Yin, son of U Kyaw, of No 30, Nyaungbin Village, Moehnyin Township, together with four packets of opium weighing about 5.578 kilos hidden in the boxes.
Similarly, a combined group comprising members of defence services intelligence unit, Special Anti-Drug Squad of Kyukok (Pangsai), Myanmar Police Force, immigration personnel searched a suspicious-looking woman Ma Tu Chun Khwe, 22, daughter of U Tai Chun, near the jetty of No 6 Ward, Kyukok (Pangsai), and found two packets of opium weighing 1.2 kilos in her plastic bag.
According to further information, the authorities searched the house of Khon Marlar (a) Don Kyin Lyan in Sepu Village, Nimtaung Village-tracts and seized three packets of opium weighing about 1.5 kilos beside the bed. But the owner of the house was not found.
Action is taken against them under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law.
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(7) Remnants of armed groups exchange arms for peace
YANGON, 23 Apr - Realizing the government's endeavours for emergence of a peaceful, modern and developed nation implementing the political, economic and social objectives and upholding Our Three Main National Causes, remnants of the aimed groups arc exchanging arms for peace.
From 1 to 31 March, 11 cpl Ma Than Than Htay, pvts Than Htut and Maung Naing (a) Naung Naung of No 702 battalion of ABSDF exchanged arms for peace in the Northern Command area, pvt Mae Law of Kayinni group of KNU, pvts Kaw Lein and San Win of SURA and pvt Aik Maung of PNO returned in the Eastern Command area bringing in one AK47 automatic, one M 16 automatic, three magazines, 58 rounds and two walkie-talkies.
Pvt Ya Kwet and medical officer John Thet Oo of No 101 battalion of No 7 brigade of KNU, pvt Than Zaw Oo and Ko Ko Lay, his wife Ma Aye Maw and son Than Zin Oo of ABSDF exchanged arms for peace in the South-East Command area, sgt Ko Kyway of ABSDF, pvt Tin Myint of KNU No-2 brigade and pvt Than Zaw of No 8, battalion in the Southern Command area bringing in with them one M 16 automatic, three magazines, 53 rounds and one grenade.
Section commander Khaing Saw Kyu of ALP and pvt Hla Win of No 3 company of No 11 battalion of KNU exchanged arms for peace in the costal Command area bringing in one M 16, one magazine and 10 rounds; and section commander Phaw Maw Lulura Haman of RSO in the Western Command area bringing in one revolver and three rounds.
They were warmly welcomed at respective military camps.
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(8) Cash awards presented to staff of Ministry of Sports
YANGON, 23 Apr - Chairman of Myanmar Olympic Committee Minister for Sports Brig-Gen Sein Win attended the ceremony to present cash awards to the staff of ministry at the assembly hall of the National Indoor Stadium 1, Thuwunna, this afternoon.
Also present were Officer on Special Duty at the Ministry of Sports Col Thaung Htaik, Adviser Col Ngo Ciin Pau and officials.
He later met the manager, the coach and selected archers of the contingent that will compete in the International Invitational Archery Contest in Bangkok from 24 to 30 April.
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(9) Minister for F&R receives foreign businessmen
YANGON, 23 Apr - Minister for Finance and Revenue U Khin Maung Thein received Vice-President Mr Patrick Rambaud and party of Total Company of France at his office this evening.
Similarly, the minister received General Manager Mr H Seki and party of Marubeni Corporation and General Manager Mr Toru Tsujii and party of Mitsui & Co Ltd at the same venue this evening.
They discussed mutual cooperation in monetary and investment.
Present also was Governor of Central Bank of Myanmar U Kyaw Kyaw Maung.