Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07KUALALUMPUR1579
2007-11-01 09:24:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
how-toVZCZCXRO5141 RR RUEHCHI RUEHFK RUEHHM RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHPB DE RUEHKL #1579 3050924 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 010924Z NOV 07 FM AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0182 INFO RUEHZU/ASIAN PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC
UNCLAS KUALA LUMPUR 001579
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP - AMB. HASLACH AND EAP/MTS - MTAYLOR
STATE PASS USTR FOR WEISEL AND BELL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD ECIN MY
SUBJECT: MALAYSIA'S APEC PRIORITIES
REF: STATE 136359
UNCLAS KUALA LUMPUR 001579
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP - AMB. HASLACH AND EAP/MTS - MTAYLOR
STATE PASS USTR FOR WEISEL AND BELL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD ECIN MY
SUBJECT: MALAYSIA'S APEC PRIORITIES
REF: STATE 136359
1. Econoff met with Malaysia's Senior Official to APEC, Abdul Ghafar
Musa, on October 30 to discuss the September APEC Summit in Sydney
and to preview priorities in the upcoming year. Ghafar, Senior
Director of the APEC Division in the Ministry of International Trade
and Industry, said Malaysia was pleased with the meetings in Sydney
and with the Leaders' statements. Although he recognized
Australia's interest in focusing in particular on climate change at
Sydney, Ghafar said that Malaysia continued to believe that APEC was
not the appropriate forum for climate change discussions, and hopes
that it will not become a permanent item on the APEC agenda. (Note:
Despite the PM's willingness to address climate change at APEC,
Trade Minister Rafidah Aziz had publicly criticized the inclusion of
climate change on the agenda shortly before the Sydney summit.)
2. On trade issues, Ghafar said Malaysia continues to believe that a
successful conclusion to the Doha round should be APEC's priority.
He noted that Malaysia was limited in its ability to forge a
successful outcome; the U.S., the EU, Brazil and India were the keys
to breaking the deadlock, said Ghafar. Malaysia was not opposed to
continued discussion regarding an eventual FTA of the Asia Pacific,
but believed this was a long term goal that should not be allowed to
interfere with the more important Doha Round.
3. Malaysia is interested in APEC focusing more attention on small
and medium enterprise development in the coming year. Ghafar said
the GOM would also welcome greater APEC attention to agricultural
development, especially by sponsoring capacity building exercises.
This fits with the GOM's recent efforts to modernize its
agricultural sector through the increased use of technology,
including biotechnology.
4. Ghafar noted that Peru's leadership of APEC would inhibit
Malaysian participation in some events over the next year, given
Peru's distance from Malaysia. Malaysian embassy officials in Lima
thus would be expected to shoulder a heavy responsibility to
represent the government in many events.
KEITH
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP - AMB. HASLACH AND EAP/MTS - MTAYLOR
STATE PASS USTR FOR WEISEL AND BELL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD ECIN MY
SUBJECT: MALAYSIA'S APEC PRIORITIES
REF: STATE 136359
1. Econoff met with Malaysia's Senior Official to APEC, Abdul Ghafar
Musa, on October 30 to discuss the September APEC Summit in Sydney
and to preview priorities in the upcoming year. Ghafar, Senior
Director of the APEC Division in the Ministry of International Trade
and Industry, said Malaysia was pleased with the meetings in Sydney
and with the Leaders' statements. Although he recognized
Australia's interest in focusing in particular on climate change at
Sydney, Ghafar said that Malaysia continued to believe that APEC was
not the appropriate forum for climate change discussions, and hopes
that it will not become a permanent item on the APEC agenda. (Note:
Despite the PM's willingness to address climate change at APEC,
Trade Minister Rafidah Aziz had publicly criticized the inclusion of
climate change on the agenda shortly before the Sydney summit.)
2. On trade issues, Ghafar said Malaysia continues to believe that a
successful conclusion to the Doha round should be APEC's priority.
He noted that Malaysia was limited in its ability to forge a
successful outcome; the U.S., the EU, Brazil and India were the keys
to breaking the deadlock, said Ghafar. Malaysia was not opposed to
continued discussion regarding an eventual FTA of the Asia Pacific,
but believed this was a long term goal that should not be allowed to
interfere with the more important Doha Round.
3. Malaysia is interested in APEC focusing more attention on small
and medium enterprise development in the coming year. Ghafar said
the GOM would also welcome greater APEC attention to agricultural
development, especially by sponsoring capacity building exercises.
This fits with the GOM's recent efforts to modernize its
agricultural sector through the increased use of technology,
including biotechnology.
4. Ghafar noted that Peru's leadership of APEC would inhibit
Malaysian participation in some events over the next year, given
Peru's distance from Malaysia. Malaysian embassy officials in Lima
thus would be expected to shoulder a heavy responsibility to
represent the government in many events.
KEITH