(1) State Peace and Development Council Chairman Senior General Than Shwe sends message of  felicitations to Republic of Venezuela

YANGON, 5 July - Senior General Than Shwe, Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council of  the Union of Myanmar, has sent a message of felicitations to His Excellency Mr Hugo Chavez Frias,  President of the Republic of Venezuela, on the occasion of the Independence Day of the Republic of  Venezuela which falls on 5 July 2001.

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(2) State Peace and Development Council Chairman Senior General Than Shwe accepts credentials of  Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium 

YANGON, 4 July-Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council of the Union of Myanmar  Senior General Than Shwe accepted the credentials of Mr Pierre Jean Marie Antoine Vaesen, newly  accredited Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium to the Union of Myanmar, at Dagon Yeiktha of the  Ministry of Defence at 10 am today. Also present on the occasion were Secretary-1 of the State Peace and  Development Council Lt-Gen. Khin Nyunt, Minister for Foreign Affairs U Win Aung and Director-General of the Protocol Department Thura U Aung Htet.

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(3) Secretary-1 receives Vice-Chairman of Unocal Corporation

YANGON, 4 July- Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen. Khin Nyunt received  Vice-Chairman of Unocal Corporation, International Energy Operation (Myanmar, Thailand Vietnam)  Mr Randy Howard at the guest house of the Ministry of Defence at 4.30 p.m. today. Also present together  with Secretary-1 Lt-Gen. Khin Nyunt were Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs U Khin Maung Win and  Deputy Minister for Energy U Tin Tun.
 

State holding Performing Arts Competitions every year to uplift Myanmar youth's spirit to love, cherish  and preserve genuine Myanmar culture 

YANGON, 4 July - A meeting was held to coordinate holding of the Ninth Myanmar Traditional Cultural  Performing Arts Competitions at National Theatre this afternoon. Speaking on the occasion, Patron of the  Leading Organizing Committee of the Competitions Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen. Khin Nyunt said due to the leadership of the State, cooperation of the doyen artists and  active participation of the student and youth competitors, every year, the Competitions have achieved greater more success than expected.

It is hoped that the objectives of the Ninth Competitions will be materialized. The State is holding the  Competitions every year with the belief that they will help Myanmar youths to love, cherish and preserve  the genuine Myanmar culture and vitalize their spirit to safeguard the national interests. In the process of  globalization, some big nations which are enjoying economic and technological advantage are trying to  dominate the small nations politically, economically and culturally to shape them as they in wish.

Especially, they are using their advantage in the media to culturally dominate the developing countries.  In the nations where vitalization of national spirit is weak, the traditions and cultures are vanishing  among the youths, and the situations are becoming uncontrollable as some big nations are exporting their  ideology and social systems to them.

It is the pride of Myanmar as the nation is in the forefront in the world in preserving traditional culture  and the Myanmar youths are preserving their cultural heritage. It is also the dignity of Myanmar to be  able to preserve her traditions and culture throughout the long history. As some big nations are trying to  dominate Myanmar in political, economic and cultural sectors, it is required for the nation to preserve the  traditions and culture with firm conviction.

Today's youths are preserving the traditions and culture at greater degree, taking part more in national  activities and their patriotism and Union Spirit is becoming stronger. In Myanmar, classical songs and  Myanmar songs are popular again among the people and the drama is on the rise once more. As the  Myanmar marionette is winning appreciation of the world countries, it attracting more youth admirers.  Improving of standards of Myanmar traditional culture and vitalizing of national spirit among youths are  the results of the Competitions. Plans are under way to upgrade the Ninth competitions. The themes for  the drama and professional level marionette competitions have already been selected since the end of  previous year's competitions. Mandolin contest will be included in this year's Competitions.

Thus all should make concerted efforts for the Ninth Competitions to gain more success as the previous  Competitions have already produced good results. Also present at the meeting were member of the State  Peace and Development Council Chairman of Yangon Division Peace and Development Council  Commander Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than, the ministers, the Yangon Mayor, the deputy ministers,  members of the Leading Organizing Committee, officials of the State Peace and Development Council  Office, heads of departments, experts in the field of performing arts and other officials.

Chairman of the Leading Committee for holding of the competitions Chairman of Yangon Division Peace and Development Council Commander Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than recalled efforts made for success of the eight Myanma Traditional Performing Arts Competition, experiences and review on weak  and strong points.

 He also explained work programmes for the ninth Myanma Traditional Performing Arts Competitions,  measures for arousing more interest in the competition by the people including the young, increase of  contestants year after year, marking schedule and programmes for holding of more competitions. Director- General of the Fine Arts Department U Kyaw Win reported on formation of various committees, fixing of  the date, venue, levels of the competition, categories, holding of drama competition, presentation of prizes  and confirmation of entry songs.

Those present took part in the discussions. In his concluding speech, the Secretary-1 said the mandolin  contest will be added in the ninth Myanma Traditional Performing Arts Competitions and he hoped that  the events this year will be more competitive than those in the previous year because of the increasing  number of contestants.

He said sending the experts in performing arts to the states which are weak in performing arts for conducting systematic training contributes towards progress of the Myanma Traditional Performing Arts  Competitions. He said the government will provide necessary assistance to the doyen artistes for their  good health and urged them to hand down cultural heritage to the new generation youths for development  of traditional culture.

The Secretary-1 said the old expressed their satisfaction at the competitions and the young showed their  enthusiasm. He said whenever he got to the basic education schools in the whole country he noticed that  prize-winner students who welcomed him, wearing their medals. He said he was pleased to see their  performance. The Secretary-1 urged officials to assign duties to doyen artistes as judges in the  competition. He called for active participation in the competitions. After the meeting, Chairman  Accordion U Ohn Kyaw presented K 500,000 donated by Myanmar Music Asiayon for the ninth Myanma  Traditional Performing Arts Competitions to the Secretary-1.

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(4) Commerce Minister receives Korean guests

YANGON, 4 July-Minister for Commerce Brig-Gen. Pyi Sone received Managing Director Mr Myung Shik Suh of Myanmar Sunny Co Ltd, Korea and party at his office on Strand Road, here at 1 p.m. today.  Also present at the call were Deputy Minister Brig-Gen. Kyaw Hsan, Director-General of Directorate of  Trade U Nyunt Aye, Director-General of Border Trade Department U Nay Win, Managing Director of  Myanma Agricultural Produce Trading U Min Hla Aung and responsible officials from the ministry.

Minister receives Country Manager of Diethelm & Co Ltd

YANGON, 4 July-Minister for Commerce Brig-Gen. Pyi Sone received Country Manager Ms Claire A  Burgess of Diethelm Co Ltd at his office on Strand Road, here at 2 p.m. today. Also present at the call  were Deputy Minister Brig-Gen. Kyaw Hsan, the directors-general, managing directors and responsible  officials from the ministry.

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(5) National Convention Convening National Convention Convening Commission meets Commission  meets

YANGON, 4 July-The National Convention Convening Commission held a meeting at the meeting hall of  NCCC Office at 2 p.m. today. Present on the occasion were Chairman of NCCC Maj-Gen Saw Lwin,  Vice- Chairman Brig-Gen. Pyi Sone and commission members. National Convention Convening Work  Committee and National Convention Convening Management Committee reported on matters relating to  National Convention. Members of the National Convention Convening Commission took part in the  discussions. Afterwards, the meeting ended with concluding remarks by Maj-Gen Saw Lwin.

Z-crafts for paper mill project inspected 

YANGON, 4 July - Minister for Industry-1 U Aung Thaung inspected two Z-crafts, which were built for  Thabaung Paper Mill Project, at a jetty in Ahlon Township here this morning. The Z-crafts, Maung  Myanmar 1 and Maung Myanmar 2, built by Myanma Annawa Swan-ar-shin Company, will be used in  transporting pulps and fuel oil for the project, which is being implemented by Myanmar Paper and  Chemical Industries in Thabaung Township, Ayeyawady Division. The boats, each measuring 150 feet in  length and 35 feet in width, can carry 450 tons of freight and 100,000 gallons of fuel oil. Installed with  two 350-HP engines, the draught of each boat is 5 feet when loaded and two feet when unloaded. The  company built the boats under the contract it had signed with MPCI. In the briefing hall of the port, the  minister met with officials and discussed building of Z-crafts to transport cement from Thayet, Kyangin  and Kyaukse cement plants and construction of warehouses. U Aung Thaung was accompanied by Deputy  Ministers for Industry-1 Brig-Gen. Thein Tun and Brig-Gen. Kyaw Win.

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(6) Cash and kind presented to MMCWA

YANGON, 4 July- Wellwishers presented cash and kind to Myanmar Maternal and Child Welfare Association at the guest hall of MMCWA at the corner of Thanthuma Street and Parami Road in South  Okkalapa Township this morning. Present were Chairperson of MMCWA Professor Daw Kyu Kyu Swe,   Vice-Chairperson Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe, CEC members and wellwishers. On behalf of the Directorate  of Defence Services Intelligence, Commanding officer of Regional Military Intelligence Unit Maj. Myo  Myint presented 69,000 contraceptive pill-cards worth K 3.4 million for birth-spacing project of  MMCWA; Ambassador of Myanmar to Israel U Wunna Maung Lwin and wife K 100,000 donated by  Myanmar Embassy in Israel and wellwisher Headmistress (Retired) Daw Myint Myint Yi K 200,000 for  MMCWA to Vice-Chairperson Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe who presented certificates of honour to the wellwishers. Chairperson Professor Daw Kyu Kyu Swe spoke words of thanks.

Cash presented to eight outstanding women 

YANGON, 4 July-A ceremony to present cash for outstanding women who were honoured on Myanmar  Women's Day was held at Social Welfare Department in Mayangon Township this afternoon. Present  were Chairperson of the Work Committee for Organizing the Myanmar Women's Day Dr Daw Khin Win  Shwe, work committee members and wellwishers. First, Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe made a speech. Then,  wellwishers Daw Se (Ngwe Se Co) presented K 400,000; U Thein Win-Daw Ni and family (Shwe Than  Lwin Co) K 400,000; Daw Thet Yi (Jacob Leather Industry) K 50,000; Dr Zaw Min-Daw Win Myint  (Oriental Gold Co Ltd) K 50,000; U Myat Thin Aung-Daw Khin Myint Myint (Aung Aung Enterprise) K  50,000; U Win Swe-Dr Myat Thida Myint (Win & Win Company) and Mingalamay Women Association  K 50,000 to Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe who presented certificates of honour to them. Cash amounting to K  1.05 million was received today and Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe handed over K 131,250 each to eight outstanding women.

Matters co-ordinated for Drug Elimination Museum 

YANGON, 4 July-A coordination meeting on work to be undertaken in the long run at the Drug Elimination Museum was held at Myanmar Police Force Headquarters here this morning. Secretary of  Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control Director-General of MPF Police Maj-Gen Soe Win spoke on  the occasion. Officials of work committees and departments discussed work to be undertaken in the long  run at the museum and the future tasks. The meeting ended with the concluding remarks by Police Maj- Gen Soe Win.

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(7) Cooperatives Minister inspects agricultural tasks 

YANGON, 4 July-Minister for Cooperatives U Aung San together with officials inspected the cultivation  of paddy on 100 acres of Aung Thabyay No 1 Agricultural Production Cooperative at Kyaung Kwin  Village in Hinthada Township yesterday. The minister met with the member farmers at the briefing hall  and heard the reports on cultivation of monsoon paddy, plans for growing of matpe and last year's  experience by Chairman of the cooperative U Sein Win and members. Director-General of Cooperatives  Department Col Soe Win and officials presented supplementary reports.

After leaving necessary instructions there, the minister proceeded to the Hinthada Department Store in  Hinthada and attended the coordination meeting of the executives from the cooperatives in Pathein and  Hinthada Districts. The minister heard the reports by Deputy Director U Thein Swe of Ayeyawady  Division Cooperatives Department and gave instructions. Then, the minister arrived at the store of  Myatyadana General Trading Cooperative in Ward 7, the guest house of Shwepinsan General Business  Cooperative and the agricultural tool shop of Toeyadana General Trading in Ward 3, Maubin and gave  instructions. The minister met with the township officers and executives from the cooperatives in Maubin,  Myaungmya and Pyapon Districts and gave instruction on production and purchasing of matpe, export,  water transport, industries and trading. The minister then inspected the ploughing of fields of  Shweyaungwin Agricultural Producers Cooperative for cultivation of monsoon paddy at Sarmalauk  Village in Nyaungdon Township. He met with the members and gave instructions.

Deputy Minister U Soe Nyunt inspects plantations 

YANGON, 4 July-Deputy Minister for Culture U Soe Nyunt inspected cultivation of vegetables in the  compound of the National Library in Tamwe Township yesterday afternoon. The deputy minister was  welcomed there and reported on cultivation of vegetables by members of Staff Welfare Supervisory  Committee Deputy Director-General U Myint Kyaing, Directors U Thaung Win, U Kyaw Oo, Daw Nu  Mra Zan and Daw Nanda Hmun. The deputy minister gave instructions on extended cultivation of crops  and plants. The Staff Welfare Committee (Yangon) of the Department of Cultural Institute of the ministry  is successfully carrying out cultivation tasks in the compound of the National Library.

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(8)  Commander Maj-Gen Ye Myint inspects construction of Nyaungbingyi-Kaon road section

YANGON, 4 July- Member of the State Peace and Development Council Chairman of the Mandalay  Division Peace and Development Council Commander of the Central Command Maj-Gen Ye Myint,  accompanied by Chairman of Kyaukse District Peace and Development Council Lt-Col Aung Kyi Shein  and officials inspected construction of Nyaung-bingyi-Kaon road section on Yangon-Mandalay Highway  in Singaing Township on 2 July. Chairman of the Mandalay Division Peace and Development Council  Commander of the Central Command Maj-Gen Ye Myint inspected gravelling of the road and digging of  drains on both sides of the road. He then gave instructions. Mandalay Division Peace and Development  Council Chairman Central Command Commander Maj-Gen Ye Myint and party went to Ayemyakyilin  Ward in Kyaukse Township and inspected construction of an extended building for No 3 Basic Education  High School.

Myanmar Women's Day observed in Bago Division 

YANGON, 4 July- Bago Division Myanmar Women's Day 2001 sponsored by Bago Division Working  Committee for woman's Affairs was observed at a hall in Toungoo yesterday morning. Present were  member of State Peace and Development Council Chairman of Bago Division Peace and Development  Council Commander of Southern Command Maj-Gen Tin Aye, Patron of Supervisory Committee for  Bago Division Working Committee for Women's Affairs Daw Kyi Kyi Ohn, wife of Commander of  Southern Command, committee members, departmental officials, members of District and Township  Working Committee for Women's Affairs, members of Maternal and Child Welfare Association, social  organizations, outstanding women and guests. Chairman of Bago Division Peace and Development  Council Commander of Southern Command Maj-Gen Tin Aye made a speech on the occasion. Then,  Southern Command Commander Maj-Gen Tin Aye and wife and officials presented cash and certificates  of honour to outstanding women.

Commander inspects construction of home for the aged in Myitkyina 

YANGON, 4 July-Chairman of Kachin State Peace and Development Council Commander of Northern  Command Maj-Gen Kyaw Win and officials inspected construction of the Home for the Aged in  Myitkyina on 28 June. Chairman of Myitkyina District Peace and Development Council Lt-Col Hla  Thaung reported on donations, progress of work and future tasks and officials of Public Works and  Myanma Agriculture Service on work being undertaken for greening of the environs. Chairman of Kachin  State Peace and Development Council Commander of Northern Command Maj-Gen Kyaw Win fulfilled  the requirements. Commander Maj-Gen Kyaw Win inspected construction of Hsutaungpyi Reclining  Buddha Image in Myitkyina. Secretary of Kachin State Peace and Development Council Lt-Col Myin Thein and the construction in-charge reported on progress of work.
 
Pathein observes Myanmar Women's Day

 YANGON, 4 July - The Myanmar Women's Day was observed in Ayeya Shwewa Hall in Pathein, Ayeyawady Division, yesterday. Sponsored by the Ayeyawady Division Women's Affairs Working Committee, the ceremony was attended by Chairman of Ayeyawady Division Peace and  development Council Commander of South-West Command Maj-Gen Thura Shwe Mann and wife Daw  Khin Lay Thet, Deputy Commander Brig-Gen. Tint Swe, senior military officers of the command and  their wives, officials, members of Ayeyawady Division Women's Affairs Working Committee, Maternal  and Child Welfare Association, Union Solidarity and Development Association, Red Cross and Auxiliary  Fire Brigade, teachers, students and guests. The commander gave a speech at the ceremony, followed by  the talks given by member of the panel of patrons of Myanmar National Working Committee for Women's  Affairs Daw Khin Lay Thet and other speakers on the different sectors of the Working Committee. Daw  Khin Lay Thet and officials presented gifts to students who won awards in essay competitions.

Commander inspects development of Kaungkha Myothit 

YANGON, 4 July - Chairman of Shan State (North) Peace and Development Council Commander of  North-East Command Maj-Gen Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo, accompanied by Station Commander of  Laukkai Station Brig-Gen. Zaw Win and departmental officials, inspected construction of Maha Dhamma  Yanthi Yanaung Pagoda on Thirimanda Hill in Kaungkha Myothit, Kutkai Township on 27 June  afternoon. Then, the commander and party inspected preparations for opening of multi-media teaching  classroom in Basic Education High School of Kaungkha Myothit and gave instructions to officials.  Commander Maj-Gen Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo also inspected tea and perennial crops plantation  in Kaungkha Myothit. National race leader U Ma Htu Naw and officials conducted the commander round  the plantation. The commander attended to their needs.

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(9)  Thai arrested with 1.65m stimulant pills 

YANGON, 4 July-Members of local intelligence unit and Myanmar Police Force, searched a Chinese  vessel anchored at Wampon Jetty in Tachilek, Shan State (East) and arrested Phiyap Tinama, 42, of No  124, San Paw Doi Ward in Chiangmai, Thailand together with 1,650,000 stimulant tablets bearing the  letters " WY " on 10 June. The police station concerned filed him under the Narcotic Drugs and  Psychotropic Substances Law.

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