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(1) Special Refresher Course No 33 for Basic Education Teachers opened
YANGON, 25 Sept - Special Refresher Course No 33 for Basic Education Teachers opened at the Central Institute of Civil Service in Hlegu Township this morning with an address by Chairman of Myanmar Education Committee Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt.
Also present were Minister for Commerce Maj-Gen Kyaw Than, Minister for Construction Maj-Gen Saw Tun, Minister for Information Maj-Gen Kyi Aung, Minister for Hotels and. Tourism Maj-Gen Saw Lwin, Minister for Transport Lt-Gen Tin Ngwe, Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Brig-Gen Pyi Sone, Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Brig-Gen Maung Maung Thein, Minister for Energy Brig-Gen Lun Thi, Minister for Health Maj-Gen Ket Sein, Minister for Religious Affairs Maj-Gen Sein Htwa, Chairman of Civil Service Selection and Training Board U Maung Maung Gyi, acting Auditor-General Brig-Gen Tin Aye, senior military officers, deputy ministers, officials of the Office of the State Peace and Development Council, department heads, Rector of CICS U Tin Tun and officials, Patron of Foreign Correspondent Club U Sein Win, Chairman U Sao Kai Pha and correspondents and trainee teachers.
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(2) Secretary-l receives Ambassador of Sri Lanka
YANGON, 25 Sept - Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt received Ambassador of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Mr K B Fernando at Dagon Yeiktha of the Ministry of Defence at 4.15 pm today.
Present also were Deputy Ministers for Foreign Affairs U Nyunt Swe and U Khin Maung Win and Director-General of Protocol Department Thura U Aung Htet.
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(3) Seminar on Quality Control of Industrial Products opens to upgrade standard of locally manufactured goods
YANGON, 25 Sept - Seminar on Quality Control of Industrial Products opened at International Business Centre this morning addressed by Patron of Myanma Industrial Development Committee Secretary-2 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Tin Oo.
Co-sponsored by MIDC and Japan Small Business Corporation (JSBC), the seminar was held under the arrangement of Asia Vigor Centre.
Talks by Mr Hideo Iwasaki, an adviser at JSBC, will greatly benefit industrialists of Yangon and surrounding areas, the Secretary-2 said.
JSBC is engaged in loan disbursement, consultancy and human resources development services to promote small and medium enterprises, he noted, expressing hope that its experiences in this field will render much assistance to the progress of Myanmar's industries as 90 per cent of them are in small and medium-scale category.
Hlinethaya, Dagon Myothit South and Shwepyitha industrial zones accommodate 382 factories, employing about 8,948 workers, he said.
Although they represent a small number compared with registered 36,000 industries of the private sector, most of them are equipped with modern tools as they were set up after 1988, he added.
Garment, shoe . and leather factories are manufacturing export goods while others are producing import substitutes, he said.
Set up on land provided by the government, these industries are doing well to a satisfactory level due to government assistance, he said, adding what is most important for them is quality control, which will be discussed today.
Quality is vital whether the products are for export or the domestic market, he noted, saying quality and standard are specially required for import substitutes to be competitive. Manufactured goods of industrial zones can compete with similar export items, he said. However, these industries still need to apply modern quality control he pointed out.
A similar seminar had already been held in the past with the cooperation of foreign experts, he recalled.
Inclusion of the Myanmar cultural products at the current seminar is specially good and suitable for cottage industries, he said, hoping lacquer-ware, silverware, sculptures, gold and silver embroideries and handloom garments will become main exports of the nation.
A vital sector in quality control is the standard which should be given priority for locally produced goods to win trust and full support of consumers, he indicated, saying the Ministry of Science and Technology is supervising for products to meet the standards fixed by international standardization body.
MIDC will strive for emergence of a standardization committee, he said.
Chairman of MIDC Minister for Industry-2 Maj-Gen Hla Myint Swe also spoke.
Ministers at Office of Prime Minister Brig-Gen Lun Maung and Maj-Gen Tin Ngwe, Chief of Staff (Navy) Capt Kyi Min, Chief of Staff (Air) Col Myint Swe, senior officers of the Ministry of Defence, Deputy Minister for Industry-2 U Thein Tun, Deputy Minister for, Finance and Revenue Brig-Gen Than Tun, officials of State Peace and Development Council Office, Myanma Industrial Development Work Committee and subcommittees, Mr Hideo Iwasaki, Managing Director of AVC U Nyan Kyaw, adviser U Min Min Aung, industrialists of Hlinethaya, Dagon Myothit South and Shwepyitha industrial zones, other officials and guests were also present.
Mr Hideo Iwasaki spoke and answered questions raised by participants.
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(4) Deputy Premier receives Chairman of Pacific Food Industries
YANGON, 25 Sept - Deputy Prime Minister Lt-Gen Tin Tun received Chairman Mr Malcolm Quie of Yangon based Pacific Food Industries Ltd of England at his office at 9.30 am today.
Present were officials of Government's Office.
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(5) Attitude of nationalities peace groups
There have been reports that the majority of the public is worried about the danger of deteriorating peace and of regional stability and peace being undermined after spreading of news that the four groups which had made peace with the government supported the National League for Democracy's call for convening of the Hluttaw. Hence, declarations of the peace groups will be made public to be able to vividly learn the situation between the peace groups and National League for Democracy and the true attitude of the peace groups.
Today, a translation of the declaration of the Myanmar National Democracy Alliance (Kokang) (MNDA) of Northern Shan State Special Region 1 is stated as follows:
Declaration on attitude of Northern Shan State Special Region 1 (Kokang) in connection with acts of National League for Democracy
Date: 19 September 1998
1. The Northern Shan State Special Region 1 (Kokang) is the organization which was the first to make peace with the government.
2. On 11 March 1989, it signed agreements with the government to carry out tasks for regional stability and development. On 4 January 1990, the government organized our region into Shan State Special Region 1. The former armed troop and national legal rights have been retained.
3. Our Northern Shan State Special Region 1 (Kokang) will constantly abide by the principles included in the agreement made with the government in 1989. We will keep striving for development of our region, safeguarding stability of the State and national consolidation.
4. Other than the current government, the Northern Shan State Special Region 1 (Kokang) has never had relations with other political parties or political organizations, nor has it issued declarations on its attitude.
5. The peace between us was not made so easily. Throughout history, our region had suffered all sorts of misery and overcome plenty of difficulties. As we have acquired peace today, we could make progress in the economic, social, education and health sectors of the region to a considerable extent. Our desire is to build a new nation based on peace and stability of the State and national consolidation.
6. As the Northern Shan State Special Region 1 (Kokang) has not made any relations with the National League for Democracy, we have not known the policies and directives of the National League for Democracy. We will never be engaged in any of the activities organized by the National League for Democracy. We never ever support the National League for Democracy in its convening a Hluttaw, for it causes direct confrontation with the government and may hamper national unity.
7. Thus we declare the attitude of the Northern Shane State Special Region 1 (Kokang) in connection with the current situation.
Sd U Phon Kya Shin
Chairman
Shan State Special Region 1
(Kokang
Peace Group)
Laukkai
The declarations of other peace groups will also be
made public.
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(6) Secretary-2 receives GM of Beijing Bluewaters Promotion Corp
YANGON, 25 Sept - Secretary-2 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Tin Oo received General Manager of Beijing Bluewaters Promotion Corp Mr Wan Li Fang and party, currently here to make the promotion of bilateral fisheries cooperation between the Myanmar and People's Republic of China, at the Office of the Prime Minister at 1 pm today.
They discussed Oil investment and livestock and fisheries matters.
Present also were Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Brig-Gen Maung Maung Thein, Minister at the Office of the Prime Minister Brig-Gen Lun Maung, Deputy Minister for Livestock and Fisheries U Aung Thein and OSD to the Office of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Col Than Tint and officials.
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(7) Construction materials for Bo Myat Tun Bridge Project arrive
YANGON, 25 Sept - Minister for Construction Maj-Gen Saw Tun, accompanied by Deputy Minister U Tint Swe and officials of Public Works, inspected unloading of construction materials from mv Sittway at Sule Jetty, here this afternoon.
This is the last batch of construction materials imported from the People's Republic of China for Bo Myat Tun Bridge Project.
The materials are 947.478 tons of steel bridge frames.
The minister supervised the unloading and gave instructions to ensure safety in the transport of the construction materials and to send them to the project site as soon as possible.
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YANGON, 25 Sept - Myanmar Board of Examination has announced that application forms and cards for Basic Education High School Examination 1999 will be sold at MBE beginning 1 October 1998.
Candidates must pay the exam fees and submit their applications to their respective township education officers not later than 30 October.
High schools and affiliated schools may send the forms and fees collectively to MBE.
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(9) Dagon Township MCWA holds education stipend presentation ceremony
YANGON, 25 Sept - A ceremony to present education stipend for third time by Dagon Township Maternal and Child Welfare Association was held at Dagon Thiri Hall of No 1 Basic Education High School in Dagon Township this morning.
Present were Vice-Chairperson of Myanmar Maternal and Child Welfare Association (Central) Dr Khin Win Shwe and CEC members, members of the patronage of Yangon Division Maternal and Child Welfare Association, well-wishers, teachers, parents and students.
Vice-Chairperson of (MMCWA) Dr Khin Win Shwe, Chairman of Dagon Township Peace and Development Council U Khaing and Chairperson of Dagon Township Maternal and Child Welfare Association Daw Mi Mi Khin delivered addresses.
U Maung Maung Swe Tin-Dr Mya Thida Swe Tin of SI Co Ltd donated K 100,000 and Agga Maha Thirithudhamma Theingi Daw Se K 50,000 to Dr Khin Win Shwe who presented certificate of honour to them.
Then, Daw Se presented school uniforms valued at K 20,000 to Chairperson of Dagon Township Maternal and Child Welfare Association Daw Mi Mi Khin and K 149,600 to 27 students for education stipend.
Daw Mi Mi Khin thanked the officials.