U.S. HOPES MALAYSIA CAN HELP RESOLVE GLOBAL ISSUES

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 21 (Bernama) -- The United States, while understanding the
hopes of the countries wanting to see change in US foreign policy under new
President Barack Obama, wants countries like Malaysia to share in the
responsibility to resolve global economic problems and enhance world security
and prosperity.

US Ambassador to Malaysia James R. Keith said Wednesday the Americans were
hoping that other countries could also contribute in resolving the major issues
confronting the world today.

"I think the world demands changes in US (policy). You are quite right in
asking for action to match words. What he (Obama) said (in his inauguration
speech) is that the ground is changing under our feet (and) that we have to
adjust to the changes.

"But, I think, it is also the case that the Americans are hoping that under
shared responsibility we also see shared burden (where) other countries (like)
Malaysia can also step up contribution to resolve global economic problems and
increase security and prosperity not only for the region but also the world, and
we all need to work together," he told reporters here.

Keith was asked about foreign policy changes under Obama's administration
after eight years of George Bush's policy which had purportedly marginalised the
voices of the international community.

Obama was sworn in Tuesday in Washington DC as the 44th president of the
United States. In Kuala Lumpur, Keith attended a US presidential inauguration
party.

Keith said Obama's message clearly showed that he intended to reach out to
all the countries in the world, the old and new partners.

"I think it is important that the president's message at the inauguration,
if you sum it up, he referred to common purpose and common interest and mutual
respect and mutual interest. We all are together. That is the message," he said.

He said Washington and Kuala Lumpur enjoyed tremendous cooperation,
including in the field of security, and this would continue under Obama's
administration.

Keith said it was a healthy sign that Malaysians of all walks of life
followed very closely the process of the presidential election in the United
States, right from the campaign, the transition period and also the
inauguration.

He said this showed that there was tremendous awareness on the part of
Malaysians in the matter and there was closeness in the people-to-people
relationship, and added that the United States and Malaysia cared for each
other.

On the issue of Dr Mahathir Mohamad asking the people to boycott US products
due to Washington's support for Israel which had invaded the Gaza Strip and
killed up to 1,300 Palestinians, Keith said he disagreed with the former prime
minister.

He said in today's globalised world it was difficult to identify the origins
of all the products in the world market and added that today's world was about
globalisation and interdependence.

He also stressed that Malaysia had benefited a lot from US investments and
trade in this country, and pointed out that Washington was not the only actor in
the effort to resolve the protracted Israel-Palestine issue as it also involved
other stakeholders.

Keith said the United States under Obama would take every possible effort
and strive hard to resolve the issue and create a lasting and sustainable peace
in the conflict-ridden Middle East.

"I think you will find very early on ... perhaps as early as this week
...(the administration) will announce both policy and the personnel to be put in
place to deal with the problem in the Middle East," he said.

Washington under the Bush presidency had came under strong condemnation from
the international community for its one-sided policy in dealing with the Gaza
crisis as well the Israel-Palestine issue.

"I think you can look to us (the US new administration) to invest in
Israel-Palestine peace and we will be working hard (on that issue)," Keith said.
-- BERNAMA