Russia-ASEAN summit does not mean Moscow turning to East - Kremlin spokesman

SOCHI, May 19. /TASS/. The Russia-ASEAN summit in Sochi does not symbolize Russia’s turn from the West to the East, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Thursday. "In my opinion, it is wrong to talk about a strategic turn to the East," Peskov said. "As a rather unique country in terms of geopolitical location, as a Eurasian power, Russia cannot turn to only one side," he added. According to Peskov, Moscow is interested in maintaining good relations with countries to the west of our borders, as well as those to the south and to the east. "Russia never initiated marginalizing our relations with some countries. We regret when we see voluntary restrictions that countries impose on themselves in what concerns cooperation with Russia," the Kremlin spokesman said. Peskov expressed hope that "the time of mutual restrictions will end sooner or later" adding that the Asia-Pacific is among top Russia’s priorities as there is a great potential for cooperation in this region. The world has drastically changed over the last 20 years, and it affected the structure of international relations, the spokesman noted. "Unfortunately, we can state that most of these changes are not for the better. We see the belt of tension and instability in several countries in North Africa, Middle East. We witnessed collapse of whole countries, Libya for instance," he added. These topics will be discussed at the Russia-ASEAN summit that opens in Sochi today, Peskov added noting that Russia will not ignore opportunities in the East for the sake of cooperation in the West. Russia-ASEAN summit The Russia-ASEAN summit has kicked off in Sochi today, and it is the biggest international event in Russia in 2016. The summit is held under the slogan "Towards Strategic Partnership for the Sake of the Common Good." The summit is expected to adopt a declaration that will lay the basis for an action plan of Russia-ASEAN cooperation in the political, economic and cultural spheres, as well as in the sphere of security. Russia has been a dialog partner of ASEAN since July 1996. Similar partnership summits are normally held on the territory of member-states and the choice of Sochi as venue for the Russia-ASEAN summit on the partnership’s 20th anniversary is symbolic. Read more