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Russia to focus on N.Korea, Iran nuclear issues at ASEAN forum

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Russia will focus on the North Korean and Iranian nuclear programs at the 40th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Manila, the Philippines, 30 July-2 August 2007, the country's Foreign Ministry spokesman said Thursday.
MOSCOW, July 26 (RIA Novosti) - Russia will focus on the North Korean and Iranian nuclear programs at the 40th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Manila, the Philippines, 30 July-2 August 2007, the country's Foreign Ministry spokesman said Thursday.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will attend the meeting, as well as the 14th session of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), a Russia-ASEAN ministerial meeting and bilateral talks.

"Russia is a fully fledged member of this key instrument for dialogue to enhance security and stability in the Asia-Pacific region," Mikhail Kamynin said. "In the context of consolidating regional cooperation to counteract new challenges and threats, we intend to emphasize the importance of establishing and promoting dialogue between representatives from various nations, cultures, and religions."

The diplomat said the Russian delegation would also raise the issue of establishing practical contacts between the ARF, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA).

The 40th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting will consider the implementation of agreements reached at the first ASEAN-Russia summit held in Kuala Lumpur in December 2005.

Lavrov will also hold Russian-Philippine talks in Manila. Kamynin said that economic issues and discussing opportunities for joint measures to expand cooperation in trade and energy would top the agenda of Lavrov's bilateral meetings.

"I would like to stress that we put a special emphasis on establishing direct business contacts between the Philippines and Siberia and the Russian Far East," Kamynin said.

There are also plans to sign an intergovernmental agreement on travel for diplomats and officials and another on cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was established in August 1967 by the five original Member Countries, namely, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. The body accepted Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Cambodia between 1984-99.

The ASEAN region has a population of about 500 million, a total area of 4.5 million square kilometers, a combined gross domestic product of almost US$ 700 billion, and total trade of about US$ 850 billion.

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