Despite economic growth, Asia-Pacific region politically unstable -

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6/6 Tass 27

SINGAPORE, June 6 (Itar-Tass) -- Russian Deputy Prime Minister Sergei
Ivanov said on Saturday at the 9th IISS Asia security summit, although the
Asia-Pacific region was showing impressive economic growth, it was still
threatened with political instability.
"At the period of the global financial crisis Asia-Pacific region is
once again demonstrating impressive growth potential and dynamics.
In 2010 in the Asia-Pacific countries the average GDP growth rate is
expected to score 7%, whereas in China and India it could reach 9.5% and
8.3%, respectively.
In other countries, including Russia where growth rate is likely to be
on the level of 5% by the end of the year, situation keeps improving, too,"
- the deputy minister stated.
In the mean time, the Russian deputy prime minister emphasized, it
would be a mistake to view situation in the Asia Pacific Region only from
an economic angle. "This region has accumulated many potential sources of
crisis over the past half a century. These include long-standing
unresolved conflicts, interstate tensions, territorial disputes and
mistrust - all these remnants of the Cold War contribute to regional
instability. Just consider the situation in the Korean peninsula, which is
now once again heating up dangerously." he noted.
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