WASHINGTON, July 19 (AFP) - Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi told US President George W. Bush on Monday that Malaysia is ready to send a medical team to Iraq and hopes to take part in reconstruction efforts.
"I'd like just to tell you that Malaysia is ready to send a medical team, a sizable medical team to Iraq," Abdullah said as he met with his host in the White House Oval Office.
"And we hope to be able, also, to participate in the reconstruction of Iraq and do whatever we can to help," said Abdullah, who declared that bilateral ties were "very strong" despite Malaysia's opposition to the war in Iraq.
"You cannot judge our bilateral relations simply on the basis of what you hear, that we may have some differences on Iraq or on Palestine," he said. "The foundation of the bilateral relations has remained strong all the time."
This is the first visit to the United States by Abdullah, who took over last October from retiring premier Mahathir Mohamad, a vociferous critic of Bush's foreign policies.
While the substance of Malaysia's views may not have changed significantly, the mode of delivery has, with Abdullah replacing Mahathir's strident tones with low-key diplomacy.
The United States is the first of a three nation visit by Abdullah covering also France and Britain.
Abdullah is also chairman of both the 57-member Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and the 116-nation Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) of developing states.
With the Palestinian Authority in turmoil, Bush assured his guest that he was "fully committed to the development of a Palestinian state that can live side by side with Israel in peace."
Abdullah said they had discussed Islam and relations with the West, adding "we believe that the Muslim countries can be helped to get a better understanding.
"We are also trying to do whatever we can," he said. "We'll help to reduce poverty, the condition of poverty."
Abdullah said he suggested and Bush agreed that a "capacity-building" program be undertaken in poor Muslim countries as part of efforts to demonstrate good faith to Muslims and address the root causes of terrorism.
Asked for his perception on the US-led war in Iraq, the Malaysian leader said the attack had "shocked many people" but recent developments, like the transfer of power to an interim Iraq government, was an "improvement and a step forward."
"I did indicate to the president that we should be doing all that we can in order to make the Iraqis realise that it is important to ensure that there is peace and stability so that preparations can be made for elections to be held," he said.
"One obviously knows that under conditions of trouble, no elections can be held," he said of Iraq's first planned democratic polls in January.
Abdullah said it was vital for Iraqis to do whatever they could to restore stability so that they would get the opportunity to elect a government of their choice.
He leaves Washington Tuesday for a meeting with French President Jacques Chirac on Wednesday and British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Friday.