Malaysia's move on US rejection

Malaysia's move on US rejection

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysia would resort to concerted efforts
by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to thwart
Washington's opposition to the East Asia Economic Caucus,
officials said yesterday.

"It would have to be a concerted ASEAN effort. After all, the
EAEC, although mooted by Malaysia, is already an ASEAN
initiative," a top Malaysian government official said.

The official's remarks came a day after Prime Minister
Mahathir Mohamad vowed to find ways to overcome fresh US
opposition to the EAEC, following a report that US President Bill
Clinton's administration had officially informed Japan it had
rejected the caucus.

Kyodo news agency of Japan had reported Wednesday that a U.S
official in Tokyo conveyed the Clinton administration's renewed
rejection of the EAEC to the Japanese government after ASEAN
officials had briefed Washington on the caucus during a dialogue
last month.