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(1) State Peace and Development Council Chairman Senior General Than Shwe sends felicitations to Kenya
YANGON, 12 Dec - On the occasion of the National Day of the Republic of Kenya, which falls on December 1998, Senior General Than Shwe, Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council the Union of Myanmar, has sent a message of felicitations to His Excellency Mr Daniel Arap Moi, President of the Republic of Kenya.
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(2) Minister for Foreign Affairs sends felicitations to Kenya
YANGON, 12 Dec - On the occasion of the National Day of the Republic of Kenya, which falls on 12 December 1998, His Excellency U Win Aung, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Union of Myanmar, has sent a message of felicitations to His Excellency Dr Bonaya Godana, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kenya.
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(3) MRTV telecasts reaching 126 nations 130 re-transmitting stations built in country
YANGON, 11 Dec - A ceremony to hand over documents on the lease of Thai-com-3 global beam transponder and related equipment to Myanma Radio and TV and to launch nine-metre earth station was held in Studio A of MRTV and at the nine-metre earth station in the compound of MRTV respectively today, attended by Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt.
Also present were Minister at the State Peace and Development Council Chairman's Office Lt-Gen Min Thein, Minister for Home Affairs Col Tin Hlaing, Minister for Information Maj-Gen Kyi Aung, Minister for Hotels and Tourism Maj-Gen Saw Lwin, Minister for Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs Col Thein Nyunt, Ministers far Communications Posts and Telegraphs Brig -Gen Win Tin, Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Brig-Gen Pyi Sone, Minister for Education U Than Aung, Minister for Health Maj-Gen Ket Sein, Minister at the Prime Minister's Office Lt-Gen Tin Ngwe, Deputy Minister for Information Brig-Gen Aung Thein, Deputy Minister at the State Peace and Development Council Chairman's Office U Hset Maung, Ambassador of Thailand to Myanmar Mr Pensak Chalarak, officials of the Ministry of Information and the Ministry of Communications, Posts and Telegraphs, the Director-General of MRTV and officials, and the Chairman of Shinawatra Satellite Public Co Ltd (SSA), among others.
At the ceremony to hand over documents on the lease of Thaicom-3 global beam transponder and related equipment to MRTV held in MRTV Studio A, Director General U Khin Maung Htay said MRTV started using Thaicom-3 on 2 May 1998, thus MRTV programmes can be viewed in 126 countries in the entire Asian region, including Japan and Australia, as well as in Africa and eastern Europe.
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(4) Corner stone laid to build three-storey Thiriyadana Kyaungsaung
YANGON, 11 Dec - Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt laid the corner stone to build a three-storey Thiriyadana Kyaungsaung in the compound of Thirimingala Mahasi Yeiktha Kyaung at Myawady Mingyi U Sa Street (1), No 51st Ward in Dagon Myothit (North) Township this morning. He also accepted donations for the building.
Also present were Sayadaws led by Leading Patron of Tipitaka Mahagandayon Kyaungtaik Sayadaw Tipitakadhara Tipitakakovida Agga Maha Pandita Dr Bhaddanta Sumingalalinkara and Leading Patron of Thirimingala Mahasi Yeiktha Sayadaw Bhaddanta Indaka, Minister for Industry-2 Maj-Gen Saw Lwin, Minister for Hotels and Tourism Maj-Gen Saw Lwin, Minister for Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs Col-Thein Nyunt, Minister for Health Maj-Gen Ket Sein, Minister for Religious Affairs Maj-Gen Sein Htwa, Minister at the Prime Minister's Office Lt-Gen Tin Ngwe, Chairman of Yangon City Development Committee Mayor U Ko Lay, No 2 Military Region Commander Lt-Col Than Win, Chairman of Yangon East District Peace and Development Council Lt-Col Aye Lwin, officials of the State Peace and Development Council Office, local authorities, donors, lay disciples and guests.
According to the agenda, the Secretary-1, ministers and officials took their designated places.
At the auspicious time, Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt laid the casket containing nine kinds of jewels and the ruby brick.
Then, the Secretary-1, Ministers Maj-Gen Sein Htwa, Maj-Gen Saw Lwin, Maj-Gen Saw Lwin and Col Thein Nyunt, Mayor U Ko Lay, Lt-Col Than Win and Lt-Col Aye Lwin laid the bricks of the corner stone. The Secretary-1 then laid the plaque.
Later, the Secretary-1 and party sprinkled scented water on the casket, corner stone and the plaque. They performed the ritual of golden and silver showers to mark the success of the ceremony.
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(5) Secretary-l views book show on mv Doulos
YANGON, 11 Dec - Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt visited mv Doulos, registered at the German-based Good Books for All (GBA), at Nanthida Jetty this evening.
Accompanied by officials of the State Peace and Development Council Office, the Secretary-1 arrived at the jetty at 6.30 pm and was welcomed by ministers, deputy ministers, heads of departments and Project Director of mv Doulos Mr Peter Conlen and staff from 35 countries.
Mr Conlen and presented a souvenir Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt in the lobby on board the ship.
Together with officials of the ship, the Secretary-1 and party studied books on over 4.000 subjects including science, medicine, the arts, cooking, hobbies as well as a wide range of literature and children's books.
The Secretary-1 left the ship at 7 pm.
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(6) Minister at SPDC Chairman's Office, Minister for Foreign Affairs leave for meetings in Vietnam
YANGON, 11 Dec - Minister at the State Peace and Development Council Chairman's Office Brig-Gen Abel and Minister for Foreign Affairs U Win Aung left here by air this morning for Hanoi to attend the ASEAN Economic Ministers' Meeting and the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting to be held on 12 December and Joint Ministerial Meeting to he held on 13 December in Hanoi, Vietnam.
The ministers were seen off at Yangon International Airport by Minister for Home Affairs Col Tin Hlaing, Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Brig Gen Pyi Sone, Deputy Minister for National Planning and Economic Development Brig-Gen Zaw Tun, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs U Khin Maung Win, Ambassadors of Vietnam and Thailand and officials of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
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(7) Glimpse of Myanmar Book Show opens on board mv Doulos
YANGON, 11 Dec - Glimpse of Myanmar Book Show, displaying books on Myanmar and nation-building endeavors in English, opened on board mv Doulos at Nanthida Jetty at 2 pm today.
Chairman of Library, Museum and Exhibition Supervision Committee Director-General of Information and Public Relations Department U Chit Naing spoke on the occasion.
He then opened the show.
Members of the committee, Director (News) of News and Periodicals Enterprise U Hla Tun, Deputy General Manager of Printing and Publishing Enterprise Daw Mya Mya, Project Director of mv Doulos and officials were also present.
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(8) Half a million books, 4000 titles exhibited aboard my Doulos
YANGON, 11 Dec - Officials of mv Doulos, registered at the German-based Good Books for All (GBA), met local and foreign journalists led by Managing Director of News and Periodicals Enterprise U Tin Kha on board the ship at 5 pm today.
Mark Kuo, Peter Conlen, Stephen Cassidy, Paul Bellward and Ronald Lappin plained to the journalists about the ship, saying the largest passenger ship in the world has made its first visit to Yangon for six days.
Built in 1914, two years younger than the "Titanic", it is the largest floating book exhibition in the world, carrying more than half a million books and four thousand titles.
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(9) World's largest floating book exhibition on oldest active passenger ship visits Yangon
YANGON, 11 Dec - MV Doulos, registered in the Guinness Book of Records as the world's oldest active passenger ship, has sailed into Yangon harbour for a six-day visit. This will be the first-ever visit of the mv Doulos to the Union of Myanmar. The ship was built in 1914 and originally named Medina. During her long career she had different names: Medina, Roma, Franca C, and Doulos; serving in four different roles; freighter, migrant career, cruise liner and floating book exhibition.
The Doulos is also the world's largest floating book exhibition carrying more than half a million books and four thousand titles. The vast range of subjects in the exhibition include Science, Medicine, the Arts, Cooking, Hobbies as well as a large range of Literature and Children's Books. Since 1978 more than 15 million people have visited the MV Doulos as she has traveled to over 380 posts in 85 countries of the world.
Doulos represents a bold experiment in international understanding and goodwill. On board, East meets West in a unique environment of living, learning and working together. With an unsalaried crew and staff of more than 300 volunteers from 30 different nations, including families, the ship has been described as a floating "united nations". The Doulos is proof that people from a wide variety of culture, languages and backgrounds can live and work together in harmony.
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YANGON, 11 Dec - Thirty-one members of Pathein Township NLD party, Ayeyawady Division, on their own volition, tendered their resignations by sending letters of resignation to Pathein Township Multiparty Democracy General Election Commission Office and the party concerned on 2 December.
Thirty-six members followed suit on 3 December and four on 4 December as they no longer wished to participate in political activities of NLD, totaling 71, sending their letters of resignation to Pathein Township Multiparty Democracy General Election Commission Office and the party concerned.
Similarly, 19 members of Kangyidaunt Township NLD party, Ayeyawady Division, on their own volition; tendered their resignations by sending letters of resignation to Kangyidaunt Township Multiparty Democracy General Election Commission Office and the party concerned on 3 December as they no longer wished to participate in political activities of NLD.
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(11) Win Win Maw wins silver in 69 kilo weight lifting
YANGON, 11 Dec - Win Win Maw lifted 227.5 kilos and won silver in 69-kilo class Women's Weight-lifting Contest in the XIII Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand, today.
China stood first with 245 kilos and China-Taipei third with 225 kilos. Myanmar secured two silvers and one bronze in women's weight-lifting event today. Aye Mon Khin will take part in women's 75-kilo class weight-lifting contest on 12 December.
Thai beat Myanmar 3-0 in semifinal match in the Men's Sepak Takraw Team Contest. Myanmar and Singapore won bronze for joint-third in the contest.
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(12) ITBMU opening ceremony guests Sangha & dignitaries tour Bagan-NyaungU region
YANGON, 11 Dec - Members of the Sangha of religious associations from foreign countries, officials and delegates of the departments, who attended the inauguration ceremony of the International Theravada Buddhist Missionary University of the Ministry of Religious Affairs on 9 December, accompanied by Director-General U San Lwin of Department for Promotion and Propagation of the Sasana, Professor U Maung Maung Lay of ITBMU and officials, left here for Bagan-NyaungU by Tatmadaw special aircraft on 10 December morning.
They were welcomed at Bagan-NyaungU Airport by Chairman of NyaungU District Peace and Development Council Lt-Col Khin Maung Oo, Secretary Major Myint Thein, Township RAD Officer U Ko Ko Htwe and officials.
The group paid obeisance at Shwesigon Pagoda where they were welcomed by Secretary of NyaungU District Union Solidarity and Development Association U Ye Myint and members of Board of Trustees.
The Board of Trustees presented Shwesigon Pagoda pamphlets to the visitors.
At Ananda Phaya, member of NyaungU District Peace and Development Council District Commissioner U Aye and members of Board of Trustees welcomed and conducted them round the place.
They signed in the visitor's book there.
Afterwards, they paid obeisance at Sabbinnu Phaya and signed in the visitor's book there.
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(13) Minister meets Ambassador of Italy
YANGON, 11 Dec - Minister for Communications, Posts and Telegraphs Brig Gen Win Tin met Ambassador of Italy Dr Cesare Capitani who called at his office at 10.30 am today.
Present the call were Managing Director Col Maung Maung Tin and officials of Myanma Posts and Telecommunications.
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(14) Singapore Association of Myanmar donates 4.4 m for MMCWA
YANGON, 11 Dec - Singapore Association of Myanmar donated K 4.4 million to Myanmar Maternal and Child Welfare Association in the meeting hall of the office of MMCWA at the corner of Thanthuma and Pararni Roads in South Okkalapa Township this afternoon.
Present on the occasion were Ambassador of Singapore Brig-Gen Patrick Choy Choong Tow, Chairperson of MMCWA Professor Daw Kyu Kyu Swe, Vice Chairperson Dr Khin Win Shwe and members of the Executive Committee, Chairman of Singapore Association Myanmar Mr Haung Hong Peng and officials. Mr Haung Hong Peng explained the purpose of the donation.
Ambassador Brig-Gen Patrick Choy Choong Tow handed over the donation to Chairperson Professor Daw Kyu Kyu Swe, who presented a certificate of honour and thanked the donors.
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(15) Emergency Medical Service Ltd opened
YANGON, 11 Dec - Singapore-based Myanmar AEA International Ltd which is rendering health services with the assistance of the Ministry of Health, opened Emergency Medical Service Ltd at Inya Lake Hotel this morning.
The opening ceremony was attended by Minister for Health Maj-Gen Ket Sein, Deputy Minister for Health Dr Mya Oo land officials of the ministry, Chairperson of Myanmar AEA International Ltd Dr Khin Sandar Win, Director Daw Khin Aye Thi, Regional Manager (Indochina) Mr J Rowley, Regional Medical Director Dr Philippe Barrauct and officials.
The minister formally opened Emergency Medical Service Ltd.