KL replies to logging criticisms

Tue, 22 Jul 1997, 00:00 WIB | Source: AP

KUALA LUMPUR (AP): Malaysia has denied accusations in a leaked
Australian diplomatic document that the Southeast Asian nation's
loggers are propping up rulers in the South Pacific.

Foreign Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will be host to
Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer later this week at
the annual talks between the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations foreign ministers and their dialog partners.

The Australian government began damage control at the weekend
after details were reported from the classified 93-page document,
which was left unattended at a Cairns hotel on the eve of last
week's South Pacific Forum economic meeting.

Australia-Malaysia relations were rocky for many years, but
improved in the past few years.

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