MYANMAR CRITICIZES ALBRIGHT

BANGKOK, Thailand - Myanmar's military government criticized
U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright on Thursday, saying she
should stop pointing fingers at Myanmar and start cooperating in
efforts to end the drug trade.

"It is very surprising to learn that Mrs. Albright has not been aware
or made aware of Myanmar's efforts, challenges and sacrifices" in
eradicating drugs, a government statement said.

During a visit to a Thai village on Wednesday, Albright praised
farmers who stopped growing opium, the raw material for heroin, in
favor of vegetables and flowers. She criticized Myanmar, also known
as Burma, for failing to take similar steps.

Myanmar, the world's largest opium producer, has a crop substitution
program and is trying to eliminate all opium cultivation by 2014.

But most opium is cultivated in isolated rural areas inhabited by
ethnic groups that limit the military's access to their areas, making
it difficult for the government to enforce opium growing bans.

In a separate statement Thursday, Myanmar's government blasted
Washington for decertifying it for failing to take substantial action
to curtail narcotics trafficking.

Last week, Myanmar and Afghanistan, the world's second biggest opium
producer, were the only two countries decertified by President
Clinton. The finding makes them ineligible for non-humanitarian U.S.
aid.