By Ken Ige, Star-Bulletin
Vice President Al Gore stopped briefly at Hickam
Air Force Base yesterday on his way back to Washington
from Malaysia. Among those greeting him were Emily
Cox, 5 years old, and her father, Capt. Mark Cox.

Gore boosts Hawaii
for trade summit

Cayetano says the world meet
could spark the isle economy and
international attention

By Mike Yuen
Star-Bulletin

Vice President Al Gore will aid Hawaii's efforts to host the next World Trade Organization summit, which would bring heads of state and international exposure to the isles, Gov. Ben Cayetano says.

And Cayetano adds that Gore has no regrets for his pro-democracy remarks supporting jailed Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim that were made while he was attending the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur.

Cayetano's remarks came after he and Gore met privately yesterday for 15 minutes. Gore, returning from Kuala Lumpur, was in transit at Hickam Air Force Base for less than an hour as he and his entourage transferred from Air Force One to Air Force Two for the trip back to Washington.

Gore did not comment on the APEC summit or his remarks as he walked past reporters and greeted about two dozen military dependents who braved sporadic rainfall to see him.

Cayetano said Gore told him that Hawaii "would be a great place" to host the World Trade Organization conference scheduled for late 1999. "He likes Hawaii," Cayetano said.

In August, Gore vacationed on Kauai with his wife, Tipper, and later traveled to Honolulu to be the featured speaker at a Democratic Party rally and union international convention.

The World Trade Organization summit would give Hawaii an economic boost and provide worldwide exposure that could increase tourism, as the Miss Universe Pageant did earlier this year, Cayetano said.

U.S. Reps. Neil Abercrombie and Patsy Mink are accompanying President Clinton on a trip to Japan, South Korea and Guam, and they're lobbying the president to support Honolulu as the site for the trade summit.

In Kuala Lumpur earlier this week, Gore unveiled plans by the United States and Japan to give an additional $10 billion to the troubled Asian nations suffering through their worst economic crisis in decades.

Gore's speech also made a direct reference to troubles that have erupted in Malaysia since Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad ousted and jailed his deputy, claiming that Anwar Ibrahim abused power and was guilty of sexual misconduct.

In Malaysia and other countries enduring economic crises, the people often cry out for more democracy, Gore said, enraging Malaysian leaders.