ASEAN proposes summit with Russia

ASEAN proposes summit with Russia

VIENTIANE: Leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN) proposed to hold a Russia-ASEAN summit in Kuala
Lumpur in 2005 and to send a relevant invitation to Russian
President Vladimir Putin.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was informed about this
decision in a meeting with ASEAN foreign affairs ministers in the
capital of Laos on Monday. The ministers discussed the
development of Russia-ASEAN practical cooperation and outlined
the plan of preparations for the summit.

This meeting also marked Russia's accession to the Treaty of
Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.

By signing the treaty, Russia officially joined one of the
regional legal documents aimed to provide peace and stability in
the Asia-Pacific region.

Russia's accession to the treaty is highly important for this
region, according to Indonesian foreign ministry's official
spokesman, Marty Natalegawa, in an interview with RIA Novosti on
Monday.

"This importance cannot be overestimated," he said. "Russia is
a great country, a permanent member of the UN Security Council.
It is playing a great role in the region," he noted.

"We expect this accession to promote peace and security in the
region and hope Russia will keep playing a positive role in
Southeast Asia," he concluded. -- RIA Novosti