1. Strength and prowess of Myanmar is glorious in history
   
   It has been placed on record with many concrete and profound evidences that Myanmars are people who have successively inherited and preserved the pride of their origin and lineage and safeguarded their freedom with heroic spirit. In the course of their struggles for regaining national independence without letting themselves get bogged down in the quagmire of slavery in the aftermath of lawless aggression of colonial forces, Myanmars on the strength of their love of lineage and nation had fought back against the colonialists politically and militarily in various ways. We should never forget that the proud strength and prowess of Myanmars who had forged strong unity and striven in unison throughout the course of the struggle for Independence, sacrificing lots of lives, blood and sweat, is glorious in Myanmar history.
   
   Senior General Than Shwe
   Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council
   Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services
   (Message sent on the occasion of the 51st Anniversary Independence Day)
   
   Source: "The New Light Of Myanmar", www.myanmar.com/nlm
    

2. Senior General Than Shwe sends message of felicitations to Cuba
   
   YANGON, 1 Jan— 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 Dr Fidel Castro Ruz, President of the Council of State and of the Government of the Republic of Cuba, on the anniversary of the Liberation of the Republic of Cuba which falls on 1 January 2006.
   
   Source: "The New Light Of Myanmar", www.myanmar.com/nlm
    

3. Senior General Than Shwe felicitates Sudanese President
   
   YANGON, 1 Jan— 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 Lt-Gen Umar Hassan Ahmad Al-Bashir, President of the Republic of Sudan, on the occasion of the Independence Day of the Republic of Sudan which falls on 1 January 2006.
   
   Source: "The New Light Of Myanmar", www.myanmar.com/nlm
    

4. Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Thein Sein attends meeting of Central Committee for observance of 58th Anniversary Independence Day
   
   YANGON, 31 Dec — The Central Committee for observance of the 58th Anniversary Independence Day for 2006 held its coordination meeting at Zeyathiri Beikman, here, this afternoon.
   
   Chairman of the Central Committee Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Thein Sein delivered an address, saying that today’s coordination meeting was the second to be held to organize the 58th Anniversary Independence Day which falls on 4 January 2006 on a grand scale in line with the Independence Day Objectives.
   
   He added the first coordination meeting was held on 12 November 2005, and the National Objectives of the Independence Day were laid down. Furthermore, the Central Committee and 10 sub-committees have been set up. Therefore, the sub-committees are making preparations for organizing the Independence Day ceremony.
   
   The Secretary-1 urged officials from respective sub-committees to submit their preparatory tasks, and to take part in the discussions.
   
   Chairman of Yangon Division Peace and Development Council Commander of Yangon Command Lt-Gen Myint Swe and chairmen of the sub-committees, deputy ministers and officials briefed the Secretary-1 on progress in making preparations for Yangon City State Flag hoisting and saluting ceremony, Independence Day Reception and Dinner, security, information, essay contests, TV quiz and computer arts contest, compilation of the message of the State Peace and Development Council Chairman, Independence Day Exhibition, entertainment, health, and sports meets.
   
   The ministers, the deputy ministers and officials gave supplementary reports.
   
   After holding discussions related to the reports, the Secretary-1 gave the concluding remarks.
   
   In the evening, Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Thein Sein inspected preparatory tasks at the 58th Anniversary Independence Day Exhibition to be organized by the exhibition sub-committee at Tatmadaw Convention Hall, here, and gave necessary instructions to officials.
   
   Source: "The New Light Of Myanmar", www.myanmar.com/nlm
    

5. Foreign Minister felicitates Cuban Counterpart
   
   YANGON, 1 Jan— U Nyan Win, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Union of Myanmar, has sent a message of felicitations to His Excellency Mr Felipe Perez Roque, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cuba, on the anniversary of the Liberation of the Republic of Cuba which falls on 1 January 2006.
   
   Source: "The New Light Of Myanmar", www.myanmar.com/nlm
    

6. Foreign Minister sends message of felicitations to Sudan
   
   YANGON, 1 Jan— On the occasion of the Independence Day of the Republic of Sudan, which falls on 1 January 2006, U Nyan Win, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Union of Myanmar, has sent a message of felicitations to His Excellency Mr Lam Akol Ajawin, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Sudan.
   
   Source: "The New Light Of Myanmar", www.myanmar.com/nlm
    

7. Health Minister on inspection tour of Kayin, Mon states
   
   YANGON, 31 Dec — Minister for Health Dr Kyaw Myint together with Director-General Dr Tin Win Maung of Health Department, Deputy Director-General U Than Aung and officials of Medical Research Department (Upper Myanmar) made an inspection tour of hospitals in Mon State yesterday morning.
   
   The Minister and party arrived at Thaton District General Hospital in Mon State, and inspected wards, the delivery room, the laboratory and the operation theatre and gave necessary instructions.
   
   At Kawkareik District General Hospital, they observed the laboratory, the operation theatre, the medical store, wards, and inspected progress in construction of an annex to the hospital. In the evening, Minister Dr Kyaw Myint and party arrived at Hlaingbwe Township Hospital, and viewed round units of the hospital and inspected progress in construction of a 50-bed hospital. While in Hpa-an, the minister and party oversaw units of Hpa-an General Hospital, and gave encouragement words to patients.
   
   This morning, the minister and party inspected Hpa-an Nurses Training School. Next, they also viewed round Mottama Station Hospital and Paung Township Hospital in Paung Township, in Mon State. The minister viewed round the hospitals and gave necessary instructions. They proceeded to Zingyaik health care centre and cordially met with staff.
   
   The Minister enquired public health and disease control measures. Health Minister Dr Kyaw Myint and party arrived at Kyaikto General Hospital and observed wards, maternity room, laboratory, surgical ward and medical store and attended to the needs.
   
   Source: "The New Light Of Myanmar", www.myanmar.com/nlm
    

------ End of Message ------