RF to actively participate in addressing security issues in APR.

12/10 Tass 220

HANOI, October 12 (Itar-Tass) - Russia jointly with the Association of
South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) intends to take an active part in
addressing security issues in the Asia-Pacific Region (APR), the chief of
the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, First Deputy Defense
Minister General of the Army Nikolai Makarov told Itar-Tass on Tuesday. He
is attending the first-ever official meeting of ten ASEAN countries'
defense ministers and eight partner countries, including Russia.
"The ASEAN and the partners in the dialogue have agreed to act in
concert to maintain stability and security in South-East Asia. The Russian
Federation is a full-fledged player in this region, which is part of the
APR, and our partners are aware that it is impossible to resolve security
issues without Russia."
As for Russia, "it is interested in the further development of
multilateral cooperation within the framework of consultations by ASEAN
Defense Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus), and it believes that this
partnership will promote not only mutual understanding among the defense
ministries, but also equal security for all countries," Makarov said.
The meetings of ASEAN defense ministers with partners in the dialogue,
as the organizers believe, may become a unique forum, which will bring to
the negotiating table military leaders of very different countries - large
and small, rich and poor, and countries with different ideologies.
The final document of the first meeting reflects the political will
and determination of its participants to develop partnership to strengthen
peace and stability in the APR and all over the world.

-0-gor/str