Philippines, Myanmar sign trade, cu

[RANGOONP@xxxxxxx]

Philippines, Myanmar sign trade, cultural accord

 .c Kyodo News Service    

MANILA, Feb. 17 (Kyodo) - The head of Myanmar's ruling military regime, Senior
Gen. Than Shwe, arrived Tuesday in Manila for a three-day state visit aimed at
strengthening bilateral ties between the two nations amid protests by critics
of the junta. 

Philippine President Fidel Ramos and Than Shwe saw the signing of four trade
and cultural agreements, including one to promote and protect investments in
both Myanmar and the Philippines. 

''We welcome this agreement to promote and protect investments. Equally
delighted are Filipino executives who have witnessed the tremendous business
potential in Myanmar,'' Ramos said. 

The Philippines agreed to provide 5 million pesos (123,000 U.S. dollars) worth
of scholarship funds to train at least 60 Myanmar nationals, including
military officers and journalists, over a two-year period. An agreement to
facilitate exchanges of diplomats and military officers between the two
countries was also signed. 

Both countries agreed to promote art and culture through exchange of
information, experts, books and other materials to enhance cultural
understanding between the two peoples. 

Ramos was the first head of state of the nine-member Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN) to visit Myanmar in October last year. Myanmar, along
with Laos, was inducted into ASEAN as a full member in July last year despite
calls for a postponement by the United States and the European Union. 

Aside from economic matters, Philippine Foreign Secretary Domingo Siazon said
Ramos and Than Shwe talked about ''national reconciliation efforts'' of the
Myanmar regime. 

Ramos, in his bilateral meeting with Than Shwe, reiterated the Philippines'
offer to help Myanmar in its efforts to ''make peace with all sectors in
society'' and build ''systems and structures that will form the basis of a
peaceful, progressive, stable and democratic nation.'' 

Meantime, about 20 pro-democracy Filipinos, protested in front of the hotel
where Than Shwe and his 47-member delegation are staying. The protesters,
urged Than Shwe to honor the results of the 1990 elections won by Aung San Suu
Kyi's National League for Democracy. They carried banners which read ''Free
Burma, not Free Trade.'' Another placard showed a picture of Than Shwe
splashed with the slogan ''Democracy in Burma.'' 

At least two Filipino protesters managed to go near Than Shwe as the Myanmar
senior leader entered the heavily-guarded hotel. One of them shouted ''Mr.
General, you are not welcome here.'' The woman protester and a male activist
were removed from the hotel premises. 

Security men manning the gates of the hotel also confiscated pamphlets
criticizing the Myanmar regime, including hand outs distributed to journalists
by the protesters.