Strengthening of security in Asia should not be prompted by military blocs - lawmaker

HANOI, January 19. /TASS/. The Russian parliamentary members are determined to conduct constructive work with all member states of the Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF) to consolidate peace and security in the Pacific Rim, Chairman of the Federation Council Committee for Foreign Affairs Konstantin Kosachev said at Friday’s plenary meeting on political and security issues held in Hanoi at the 26th APPF session. "We are confident that the security and cooperation architecture in the Pacific Rim should be based on the principles of rule of international law, indivisibility of security, adherence to a peaceful settlement of disputes and non-use of force or a threat of force," Kosachev noted. The Russian side is confident that security in the Pacific Rim should be tightened not through building the explosive potential of closed military-political blocs, he said. "Security should be heightened in the region as a whole, on a transparent and inclusive basis," the senator stressed. In light of this, he noted the importance of a dialogue on the Pacific Rim security architecture that started within the East Asia Summits and was systematized at the platform of the headquarters of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Jakarta. The head of the Federation Council Committee for Foreign Affairs believes that the parliamentary diplomacy is a much-needed tool in international policy capable of effective development of confidence between states and a search for alternative solutions to thorny international issues. "This year we are celebrating the 25th anniversary of establishment of the Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum. We may state that in these years the APPF has become an effective platform for a parliamentary dialogue on the key problems of the global and regional development," Kosachev said. Read more