( 1 ) State Peace and Development Council Chairman Senior General Than Shwe sends felicitations to Pakistan

Yangon, 23 March - On the occasion of the anniversary of Pakistan Day, which falls on 23 March 2001, His Excellency Senior General Than Shwe, Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council and Prime Minister of the Union of Myanmar, has sent messages of felicitations to His Excellency Muhammad Rafiq Tarar, President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and to His Excellency General Pervez Musharraf, Chief Executive of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

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( 2 ) Secretary-1 attends cornerstone-laying ceremony for Myanma Information and Communication Technology Development Building in Hline Township

Yangon, 22 March-A ceremony to lay cornerstone for Myanma Information and Communication Technology Development Building was held in Hline Township this morning, attended by Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt. Also present at the ceremony were member of the State Peace and Development Council Chairman of Yangon Division Peace and Development Council Commander Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than, ministers, deputy ministers, the vice-mayor, senior military officers, officials of the State Peace and Development Council Office, departmental heads, members of Myanmar Computer Technology Development Council, chairmen of Myanmar Computer Federation, Myanmar Computer Scientist Association, Myanmar Computer Industry Association, Myanmar Computer Amateur Association and officials and guests. Chairman of MCTDC Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt inspected scale models of the building and gave instructions.

The ceremony stated at 7.10 am, and master of cere-monies Daw Thida Swe of Myanma Radio and Television, read out the agenda. Then, Sayagyi U Kyaw read out the stone inscription of the building. Afterwards, the Secretary-1 laid the nine-gem casket at the designated place. At the auspicious time, the Secretary-1, the commander and the ministers put cornerstones at the respective places at the same time. The Secretary-1 placed the stone plaque at the designated place and sprinkled scented water on the casket, the cornerstones and the plaque. After the ceremony, the Secretary-1 performed rituals of golden and silver showers to mark successful completion of the ceremony.

Secretary-1 receives Chief of Mission of UNHCR

Yangon, 22 March-Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt- Gen Khin Nyunt received Chief of Mission Mr Rajiv Kapur of UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Yangon at the Guest House of the Ministry of Defence at 5.30 pm today. Also present at call were Minister for Foreign Affairs U Win Aung, Minister for Immigration and Population U Saw Tun and officials.

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( 3 ) Minister U Aung Thaung receives Chinese guests

Yangon, 22 March-Secretary-1  Minister for Industry -1 U Aung Thaung met Director of Shandong Building Material Machinery Factory of the People's Republic of China Mr You Shouzhi and party at his office at 4 pm yesterday. Also present at the call were Deputy Minister Brig- Gen Kyaw Win and officials.

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( 4 )   World water day observed to enhance public awareness in ensuring availability of clean water

Minister for Health delivers address at World Water Day Ceremony

Yangon, 22 March-A ceremony to mark the World Water Day 2001 was held at the International Business Centre on Pyay Road this morning, with an address by Minister for Health Maj-Gen Ket Sein. The minister said water is one of the main resources of the world. It is also an essential and valuable resource for man. As health, social and economic sectors depend on availability of clean water, systematic water management which ensures effective water control systems and long-term existence of water resources is required.

As a means to pay attention to the above-mentioned facts, 22 March has been designated as "World Water Day" at UN General Assembly in accord with the decision made by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development which was held in 1992. Myanmar also has many sayings emphasizing the importance of water to the life of man; and the sayings have proved that Myanmars value water as their lifeblood. Seventy-five percent of the world's surface is covered by water, and water constitutes about 70 percent of the weight of a human body. Water is also included t as a major portion in the  daily food of the people.

Every year millions of I people of the world are suffering from diseases and health problems or die due to contaminated water and inadequate supply of water. Of the enormous amount of the world's water, only two percent or 1.4 billion cubic kilos is fresh water. Thus, the nations of the world are having to face and solve water problems. In Myanmar, efforts are being made to ensure adequate clean water supply to all the sectors including agriculture and health sectors throughout successive years.

Six major projects covered by the national health plan is being implemented in accord with 15 national health objectives; availability of water and environmental   sanitation has been included  in the environmental health  project, one of the six major  projects.

In Myanmar the Ministry of Health, thc Ministry for Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs, the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, the Ministry of Construction, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Forestry, Yangon City Development Committee and Mandalay City Development Committee are the main bodies striving to ensure availability of water in the entire nation.

The coordinated efforts of many departments might make it difficult to collect data. Therefore, it is assumed that it will be easier if a focal point is set up and data are collected. So,a focal point should be designated to collect accurate and sufficient data concerning water.

The motto of the World Water Day jointly observed by the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization in 2001 is Water and Health. The aims of observing the World Water Day are to enhance public awareness about the relation between the use and availability of clean water and health, to promote the cooperation and coordination of the organizations which are working together for availability of water, to reduce the number of outbreak of waterborne diseases, to broaden the horizons of the public about water and health and to get the success of the tasks in thc limelight.

As of today, sustained efforts are to be made to ensure sufficiency of clean water for all Myanmar people throughout this year, and Planning Committee is to be formed, and emphasis is to be placed on tasks for the use and availability of clean water. In Myanmar, water supply projects are under way, and the pilot projects for monitoring the quality of drinking water have been set into motion recently.

Thanks should be expressed and encouragement should be given to various departments which have embarked on the task of turning quantity into quality, that is to say, from the task of tapping water resources to that of ensuring the use of pure water. All are to exert continued efforts for the quality assurance of water being used by the people of Myanmar. In conclusion, the minister urged all present to discuss tasks which are feasible and can ensure the availability of clean water for the people of Myanmar.

Also present on the occasion were Minister at the State Peace and Development Council Chairman's Office Lt-Gen Min Thein, deputy ministers, Rector Brig-Gen Hla Myint of Defence Services Medical Institute, President of Myanmar Academy of Medical Sciences Dr Ko Ko and members, directors-general, managing directors, deputy directors-general, directors, medical superintendents and rectors, hospitals and institutes under the Ministry of Health and departments concerned, resident representatives and officials of UN agencies, chairmen, executives and officials of NGOs and guests.,

WHO Resident Representative Dr Agostino Borra read out the message for the World Water Day ceremony sent by South-East Asia Region Director Dr Uton Muchtar Rafei of WHO. After the ceremony, Minister Lt-Gen Min Thein, Minister Maj-Gen Ket Sein, the deputy ministers, the officials and guests viewed the exhibition marking the World Water Day in the reception hall of IBC.

Afterwards, the World Water Day Commemorative Seminar was held at the central hall of IBC at 9.30 am.

Deputy Director-General Dr Soe Aung of Health Department presided over the seminar. Assistant Engineer Daw Li Li Tin of Yangon City Development Committee, Assistant Engineer Daw Nyunt Kyi of Development Affairs Department, Assistant Director U Kyaw Win of Health Department (Sanitation Division), Director U Kyaw Win of Water Resources Utilization Department, Programme Officer of UNICEF Dr Deepak and Deputy Director (Health Education) Dr Khin Maung Lwin of Health Planning Department submitted papers to thc seminar.

Those present took part in the discussions and the seminar concluded in the evening.

Minister inspects land reclamation, construction of road, bridges in Hlegu

Yangon, 22 March- Minister for Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs Col Thein Nyunt, accompanied by Director-General Col Myo Myint of Development Affairs Department, yesterday morning inspected land reclamation at Vegetable Cultivation and Production Special Zone No 3, construction of the road from Kyargansu to Hlegu and building of bridges on Kyargansu-Ngahsutaung section in Hlegu Township.

In the briefing hall, the minister and party heard reports on building of bridges on Kyargansu-Ngahsutaung section, construction of earthen road on Kyargansu Hlegu section and land reclamation at the Vegetable Cultivation and Production Special Zone No 3. Then, the minister and party inspected construction of the bridge on Ngahsutaung road and gave necessary instructions.

At the Vegetable Cultivation and Production Special Zone No 3, the minister inspected the land reclamation and gave instructions on work.  Out of 1,600 acres of land of the zone, 1,060 acres of received land have been allotted to the departments concerned. so far. Entrepreneurs also started their work in the region.

Then, the minister and party inspected water pumping test at the tube well by plastic propeller near Taguton Village. The minister and party inspected Construction of earth road from Kyargansu Hlegu by heavy machinery. Out of four miles, three miles of the- road have been completed. Hlegu-Kyagansu Hsatthadaw-Hmawby Road is seven miles shorter than Hlegu -Htaikkyant-Hntawby Road. On completion of the road, cultivators, breeders and local people will be able to travel from Hlegu to Hmawby more conveniently.

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( 5 ) Minister inspects locomotive workshop

Yangon, 22 March-Minister for Rail Transportation U Pan Aung, accompanied by Managing Director of Myanma Railways Col Min Swe and officials, inspected Ywahtaung Locomotive Workshop in Sagaing Township on 20 March. The minister inspected construction of rail-bus for transport of tourists and gave instructions. Then, the minister inspected construction of coaches which can carry 500 passengers and attended to the needs. The minister later met with Workshop Manager U Myint Khaing, engineers, division level officials and responsible persons and urged them to speed up the work.

Mayor inspects Uto Golf Course, receives Chinese guests

Yangon, 22 March-Chairman of Yangon City Development Committee Mayor U Ko Lay inspected the construction of golf course at Uto Recreation Centre in Taikkyi Township and received the director of Zeng Zu Municipal Radio and Television, China, this morning. The Mayor accompanied by the officials arrived at the golf course construction project in Uto Recreation Centre in Taikkyi Township and inspected land preparation, planting of grass on greens and trees. Then, the Mayor inspected construction of Agriculture Research Centre and gave instructions on meeting the targeted standard and completion of the tasks in time. Then, the Mayor received Director Madame Wu Yu Hua of Zeng Zu Municipal Radio and Television, China and party at Uto Shwewatun hall. Member of the committee Col Thaung Wai briefed them on condition of agriculture camps and agriculture and livestock breeding tasks in Uto-Kya-in region, and replied to the queries raised by the guests. Afterwards, the guests looked around the region in cars.

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( 6 ) Lawka Chantha Abhaya Labha Muni image crowded with devotees

Yangon, 22 Mar- Members of the Sangha, foreigners, devotees and pilgrims were seen making donations at the Lawka Chantha Abhaya Labha Muni image at Mindhamma Hill in Insein Township toady.

Stone Sculptor Thiri Thudhamma Manijotadhara U Taw Taw and sons, the engineers and workers of Buildings Construction Project Special Group-2 of Public Works, Myanmar handicraft technician U Ohn Tin and group, and U Hla Kyu and group were carrying out decoration and construction tasks.

Wut associations recited parittas from morning till night in turn. Bookshops of Ministry of Religious Affairs and Ministry of Information sold various kinds of books on knowledge and aesthetics. Donation Centre is opened daily and donations made by the public have amounted to K 159,084,527 from 5 August 2000 to date.

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( 7 ) Minister inspects factories in Bago, Magway Division

Yangon, 22 March - Minister for Industry-2 Maj- Gen Saw Lwin, together with officials, arrived at No 1 Agricultural Machinery Factory (Hsinde) under Myamna Agricultural Industries in Padaung Township, Bago Division (Western Branch), on 18 March.

The minister inspected manufacturing of power tillers and water pumps at the workshop-1 and gave instructions on putting agricultural machinery of high quality in the market.

On 19 March, the minister visited No 2 Agricultural Machinery Factory (Malun) in Minhla Township, Magway Division. In the briefing hall of the factory, General Manager U Thein Aung and Managing Director U Than Tun reported on production work, strength of the staff, research and development work and financial matters.

The minister later toured the factory, and inspected the tailoring course No 2/2000 con ducted by the factory and the .self-reliant per-primary  school  of the factory.

The minister and party arrived at No 2 Automobile Factory under Myanma Automobile and Diesel Engine Industries on 20 March and spent the night there. Yesterday, the minister inspected manufacturing of two ton light trucks and Mazda Jeeps at the factory.

Managing Director U Soe Thein and General Manager U Kyaw Myo Win reported on production work. The minister gave instructions on the work. Afterwards, the minister went to No I Machine Tool Factory under Myanma Machine Tool and Electrical Industries, and inspected production work and construction of Power Cable Manufacturing Shop.

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( 8 ) Minister inspects solo art show

Yangon, 22 March- Minister for Culture U Win Sein inspected preparations being made for artist Min Way Aung's solo art show (Myanmar) to be staged at the multi-purpose hall of the National Theatre of Cultural Institute Department this afternoon.

Officials and U Min Way Aung reported on thc salient points of the show to the minister who gave necessary instructions. A total of 35 paintings of oil and water colour, etc will be exhibited at the show the is to be held with the sponsorship of the National Theatre of CID and Dr Khin Sanda Win and the paintings are not for sale.

The show will be opened to the public free of charge from 23 to 29 March from 9 am to 4 pm daily. On 23 March, Tayaw U Tin Yi Band troupe will present the entertainment as a special programme.

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