JAK Meets Powel in Malaysia

President John Agyekum Kufuor has held talks with the US Secretary of State Mr. Colin Powell behind closed doors in the Malaysian capital of Kualur Lumpur.

Mr. Powell is on an eight-nation Asian tour focused on fighting terrorism following reflecting changes in US policy since the September 11 attacks.

The tour, which began last weekend in India and Pakistan, would take Mr. Powell to Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia and the Philippines until August 3.

President Kufuor is also on a three-day state visit to Malaysia and in addition will participate in the Sixth Langkawi International Dialogue, which begins on August 1-3 on the Langkawi Islands near Malaysia.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hackman Owusu-Agyemang, briefing newsmen on the discussions, said the talks held in a cordial atmosphere centred on regional security, terrorism and Ghana's progress in development and problems associated with the developments.

He said the two personalities also discussed the way forward for Africa under the New Partnership for Development in Africa (NEPAD) and Mr. Powell commended Ghana for signing all protocols in the United Nations (UN) and the African Union (AU) on terrorism.

The Foreign Minister said the issue on the derogatory remarks made against the government of Ghana on investments by Mr. William Larsh was also discussed and Mr. Powell assured President Kufuor that his objection to the remarks to the US State Department had been received and action would be taken on it.

Meanwhile, a solemn but impressive ceremony was held at the forecourt of the Malaysian Parliament House in Kualur Lumpur on Tuesday to officially welcome President Kufuor and his entourage to the country.

President Kufuor accompanied by his wife Mrs. Theresa Kuffuor, Ministers of State and other private business Executives were in Kualur Lumpur on a three-day state visit to study the exploits of Malaysia that had made it an economic giant in the Far East.

On their arrival, President Kufuor and his wife were received by His Majesty Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Tuanku Syed Putra Jamalullial, the Yang di-Pertuan, Head of State of the Republic of Malaysia and his wife Tengku Fauziah Tengku Abdul Rashid, the Raja Permaisuri Agong and escorted to a dias erected for them where the national anthems of the two countries were played.

President Kufuor inspected a guard of honour as a 21-gun salute boomed in the background by the Ceremonial Battery after which President Kufuor and his host went on a state ride to his hotel where they held a closed-door meeting.

Later during the day, Dato Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Prime Minister of Malaysia also paid a courtesy call on President Kufuor where they also held closed-door discussions.

President Kufuor made a reciprocal visit to the Malaysian Prime Minister in his office at the Perdana Putra Building at Putrajaya about 55 kilometres from Kuala Lumpur, he signed the visitor's book and was conducted round the building to have a panoramic view of the new city now under construction.

He then led the Ghanaian delegation including the Ministers of State and the business executives to have an hour meeting with their Malaysian counterparts behind closed doors.

Today, Wednesday, the third -day of the visit, President Kufuor is expected to visit the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), the National Information Technology Council (NITC), IRIS Corporation and the Malaysian Chambers of Commerce and Industry.