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The Prime Minister said talks were definitely “not off” and Malaysia was still doing its “homework” and fine-tuning the issues which have been raised.
<P>“We want to make sure that the end results from the negotiations is
something that benefits us and our interests,” he told reporters after launching
the Pantai Sentral Park Project in Pantai Dalam yesterday. </P><P>When asked whether
the 58 outstanding issues would be sorted out within the next three weeks, Abdullah
said: </P><P>“Whatever we do, the most important thing is that we want to
ensure that what we achieve is best for Malaysia. For us, that’s our priority.”
</P><P>The United States had set a March deadline to conclude the talks because
it needed to present it to the US Congress 90 days before its Trade Promotion
Authority to negotiate FTAs expired in June. </P><P>On whether was more pessimistic
now about the FTA, Abdullah said: </P><P>“I am not saying anything about
pessimism and optimism. But the fact is that we are able to go through a lot of
those issues.” </P><P>Asked if it was not a big deal for Malaysia if the
talks failed, Abdullah said: “We will talk about it if that happens.”
</P><P>In Osaka, Japan, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said
Malaysia would only sign the FTA with the United States if there was no negative
impact on the country. </P><P>He said Malaysia needed the FTA but the agreement
should be on terms that were mutually acceptable. </P><P>“Negotiations have
gone a long way and we are in the final stages of putting together our position.
</P><P>“This month, we will make a position and will try to narrow the differences
with the US,” he said during a luncheon with Japanese businessmen yesterday.
</P><P>Recently, International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Rafidah
Aziz, who is coordinating the negotiations, said Malaysia and the United States
had already agreed on the non-negotiable issues such as the bumiputra policy and
the sovereign right of the nation to make policies. </P><P>However, there were
another 58 outstanding issues that needed to be worked out.</P><P><I>Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/3/9/nation/17094151&sec=nation</I>
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