BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN Nov 10: Senior officials from 21 countries on the Pacific Rim downplayed the uncertainty of the US election as they opened talks Friday to finalise an agenda of broad trade Issues for President Bill Clintons final APEC summit, says AP.

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings being held over the next week in this oil-rich enclave on Borneo Island in Southeast Asia will come amid turmoil in many member states, but delegates said that they expected little fallout.

"1 don’t think so: hopefully not." said Ricardo Lagos, the senior official to APEC from Chile.

Officials predicted that a final declaration to be agreed on by Clinton and other leaders would call for resumption of global trade talks under the World Trade Organisation, stalled for more than a year since the last attempt broke down in rioting on the streets of Seattle.

The officials, who are paving the .way for a two-day meeting

of economic ministers starling Sunday, followed by a leaders summit Nov 15-16. also expect to address the issue of bringing stability to volatile oil markets anti narrowing the so-called digital divide

But the backdrop is likely to be turbulent, a characteristic of APEC summits since the Asian economic crisis dominated the Vancouver gathering in 1997. Vice President Al Gore’s statements in favor of pro-democracy protesters upset his Malaysian hosts in 1998. and the bloodshed in East Timor overshadowed last year's meeting in Auckland.

With only two months left in office. Clinton has little authority to reassure other leaders that his successor - unlikely to be decided until the Electoral College meets in December -will carry on his trade policies.

Other countries also have leaders with weakened mandates and their presence - and non-presence - represents a c hanging of the guard at the summits, which Clinton established as an annul trans-Pacific feature with a gathering in Se-

attle In 1993.

President Josepeh Estrada of fie Philippines laces growing < alls lor his ouster in a bribery’ scandal. He plans to attend the APEC summit. But President Chen Shui-bian of Taiwan, who also laces impeachment pressures. won't be here. Nor will Prime Minister Jean Chretien of Canada, campaigning for a snap election called for Nov 27.

However, the senior bureaucrats meeting Friday and Saturday say that they're trying to draw up broad statements of common principle, not hammer out finely detailed treaties, and expect no major disputes.

Jonathan C Menus of the US Department ol Commerce said (hat countries around the Pacific Rim shared a < onmion goal In building up e-comtnerce capacity and finding a framework for shared regulations.

Meanwhile a Reuters report from Washington says, despite election turmoil at home. President Bill Clinton will head to the tiny sultanate of Brunel on Sunday Tor farewell meetings with Asia-Pacific leaders and to make a final push lor a new

round ot global trade talks.

Just days after the hoth contested US presidential election. which remains too close to call, the Wlille House said Clinton would travel to oil-rich Brunel on Borneo island for the November 15-16 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, where he will hold separate meetings with the leaders of Russia. South Korea. Japan and China.

The business of the presidency goes on. the business of America goes on." Clintons National Security Adviser Sandy Berger told reporters when asked If the president was considering skipping this year's APEC summit because of the election uncertainty.

It would be. I think, a loss to the United States if i|u. president of the United States were not present there with the leaders of all the rest of Asia " Berger said.

The APEC summit. Clintons last, will give the U.S administration a chance to make a final pitch for a new round of global trade talks