CANBERRA. Dec 11: Aus tralian Foreign Minister Gareth Evans said this morning that he expects the Malaysian cabinet to end the recent row between the two countries later today, reports Xinhua. ,

The relations between the two countries wifi return to normal if the Malaysian cabinet decides today to accept Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating's apology for his comments about his Malaysian counterpart Mahathir Moham ad. Evans was quoted as saying tn Melbourne by the Australian Associated Press (AAP)

Keating described Mahathir as a "recal cltrant for not attending the Informal leaders' meeting of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in Seattle last month, which has made their ties severely strained for the past three weeks.

While Malaysia has taken some minor steps of sanction

against Australia as retaliation. Keating has publicly expressed regret qver his comments

The Malaysian cabinet will hold a meeting later today to decide whether to accept the regret or to impose tougher sane Uon against Australia

"We have to wait and see what goes out of today s meet Ing, Evans said, adding that Australia expects a reaffirmation from Malaysia of “th* value of the relationship"

If the results of the meeting turn out to be positive. they will represent "a straightforward signal" that the problem Is over and things are back to normal Evans said

But it s also possible that the signals coming out of the meet Ing will be ambiguous, which will affect Australia's business ties with Malaysia he said

Malaysia Is Australian 13th biggest trading partner, with annual two-day trade totalling 1 6 billion US dollars