KALADAN NEWS

Dated: 18/12/2002

BURMESE JUNTA LEADER REACHED DHAKA YESTERDAY

Chittagong, December 16,02: The Burmese junta leader

Gen. Than Shwe, also the chairman of Myanmar’s SPDC,

arrived Dhaka yesterday morning for a two-day state

visit to Bangladesh at the invitation of Prime

Minister Begum Khaleda Zia.

Prime Minister Beguym Kahleda Zia received Gen. Than

Shwe and Madame Kyaing Kyaing when they arrive Zia

International Airport by a special flight of Myanmar

Airways International at about 10:35am.

Myanmar PM is leading a 54 member delegation that

included his wife, two daughters and ministers of

Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Industries and Commerce.

Myanmar PM was given a red-carpet reception on his

arrival. A smartly turned out contingent drawn from

the three services presented a guard of honor and gave

21 gun salutes.

Bangladesh and Myanmar reached total understanding on

road link between the two countries and decided to set

up two task forces for studying technical and

financial feasibilities in this regard.

One agreement and MOU were also signed between the two

countries yesterday following the formal talks of PM

Begum Khaleda Zia with the visiting Myanmar PM Senior

Gen. Than Shwe.

 Foreign ministers of two countries signed the

agreement on Culture Cooperation between the two

countries and the MOU on Annual Consultation between

two foreign ministers.

The Cultural accord aims at promoting and

strengthening relations in different fields including

art, music, education, research, media and tourism.

During the talks, Bangladesh side said bilateral trade

between Bangladesh and Myanmar can be boosted, if

border trade facilities can be expanded.

Begum Zia stressed on concluding agreements on

avoidance of double taxation and arrangement of

coastal shipping of the benefit of the both countries.

In response, Gen. Than Shwe said he would instruct his

officials to look into the suggestions.

Repatriation of some 22,000 Rohingya refugees, who are

still staying in Bangladesh, also camp up for

discussion. Shwe told Begum Zia that his Government is

committed to solve the issue through dialogue.

“Than Shwe was positive on Rohingya issue, he

expressed willingness to take back remaining refugees

from Bangladesh through proper way” the Foreign

Secretary Mr. Shamser Mobin told a questioner.

“The Myanmar leader also assured that his Govt. would

support and help Bangladesh to become a dialogue

partner of ASEAN”, the Foreign Secretary said.

During the talks, Than Shwe apprised Begum Zia about

the prevailing political situation in his country and

said his Govt. has no intention to deny democratic

rights of the people. “Presently, Myanmar is in a

transition period to democracy”, he pointed out.

Editor,

Kaladan Press