RI PREPARED TO CONSIDER RUSSIA'S, US'S INTEREST IN EAS

Jakarta, Apr 5 (ANTARA) - Indonesia is ready to consider positively the interest of Russia and the US to participate in the East Asia Summit (EAS), Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said here on Monday.

"We are ready to consider it positively if Russia has an interest and if the US is interested in joining the group (EAS)," he said.

The minister said Indonesia had from the beginning held the view that the most suitable regional order was one that was inclusive.

"Our position from the beginning has always been inclusive. We wish to have a regional order which is inclusive with many countries participating (because) through our quality diplomats we will be able to maintain the equilibrium," he said.

To emphasize his statement Marty referred to the country's proposal to include India, Australia and New Zealand to join the EAS which originally only involved South Korea, Japan and China.

"Indonesia does not want the East Asia or Pacific region to be dominated by one country. We wish to see all countries to have an ample opportunity and room," he said without referring to specific countries that are feared to dominate East Asia.

The minister further said efforts to realize an East Asian or Asia Pacific communities would be done through multi-channels and it has been pioneered by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) with its ASEAN+1, ASEAN+3 and EAS.

"With regard to Asian Community (EAS) itself there is indeed an opportunity for it to be made perfect and these processes will certainly have to be taken," he said.

Earlier the EAS forum is maintained at the format of 10 ASEAN member countries plus Japan, China, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and India upon consideration that with more members it would have the potential to become a "mini-UN".

Russia and the US have met the administrative requirements to develop further cooperation with the ASEAN namely signing the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation.

The extension of the EAS is one of the topics to be discussed at the 18th ASEAN summit in Hanoi, Vietnam, on April 8-9.