CLINTON LAUDS MALAYSIA'S STRATEGIC TRADE ACT

PUTRAJAYA, Nov 3 (Bernama) -- Visiting US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham
Clinton said Tuesday she believes Malaysia's Strategic Trade Act will deny
nuclear proliferators the opportunity to use Malaysian territory to expand their
aims.

“Opening our mind to new ideas is an important part of building long term
security and stability but we also have to confront how real it is (nuclear
proliferation, including the spread of nuclear weapons,” she said at a joint
press conference with Foreign Minister Anifah Aman here.

“With passing of the Strategic Trade Act, Malaysia now has powerful tool for
preventing proliferation by making it easier to stop shipments of nuclear fuel,
weapon parts and other equipment especially to states that are not fulffilling
their international obligations such as Iran and North Korea.”

She said implementing the act "quickly" and "effectively" would deny nuclear
proliferators the opportunity to use Malaysian territory to further their goals.


In April 2010, on the eve of the Nuclear Security Summit hosted by US President
Barack Obama, the Malaysian government announced that it had enacted the
Strategic Trade Act, intended to strengthen Kuala Lumpur's ability to curb
exports and transshipment of Weapon of Mass Destruction (WMD) related materials.

On the multilateral front, Clinton who is here for a three-day visit, also
applauded the help that Malaysia was giving to the leader and people of
Afghanistan.

“The military and medical mission that Malaysia has deployed including
physicians and nurses and in particular much needed women doctors is a
significant contribution in helping Afghans to rebuild their country after 30
years of conflict,” she said.

The chief US diplomat also fully supported Malaysia’s plan to invest and
partake in the rebuilding of the West Bank.

“It is very important to support the state building effort. It is reflective of
the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinians to have their own state.”

Clinton noted the current Palestinian leadership has made significant progress
as recently analysed by the World Bank.

“We are very encouraged that many of our Asian friends support a
Palestinian state. This is also one of the highest priorities of President (Barack)
Obama and I. It is something that we are working very hard on and it is complex and
it is something that we came close to when by husband (Bill Clinton) was President.”


"It is our priority to the world. That is why we must unite and try to bring
about peaceful resolutions of all outstanding issues and conflicts between
Israel and Palestine and that result a state to the Palestinian."

Meanwhile, Anifah described the bilateral meeting between the two countries as
"a productive meeting."

“I am pleased with the rapid discussions held today and thank Secretary Clinton
for her commitment to elevate all ties (with Malaysia).”

“I believe Malaysia-US bilateral relations will continue to grow from strength
to strength for the mutual benefit of our countries.”

Anifah noted that both countries acknowledged the excellent bilateral
cooperation that exists in the range of defence, education and security as well
as on terrorism.

“In addition to a very strong trade and investment relationship we have very
significant people-to-people ties.”

“We have nearly 5,000 students in the US and a fine number of American tourist
visiting Malaysia each year. The total number of American tourist arrival last
year was 228,000 as compared to 223,000 in 2008.”

Before the press conference, Clinton had held a bilateral meeting with Anifah.

She also met Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who was standing in for
Najib, who was indisposed.

Malaysia is the fifth stop of Clinton's Asia tour that so far has taken her to
Guam, Vietnam, China and Cambodia. After Malaysia, she will visit Papua New
Guinea, New Zealand, Australia and American Samoa.
-- BERNAMA




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