Lavrov to leave for Indonesia Wed to attend ministerial meetings.

MOSCOW, July 20 (Itar-Tass) - Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs
Sergei Lavrov leaves here for Indonesia on Wednesday to take part in
minsiterial meetings within the scope of Russia-ASEAN and East Asia
summits (EAS) machinery, due to be held on Bali Island from July 21 to 22.
Main attention will be devoted to problems concerning
non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, including a nuclear-free
zone in Southeast Asia, as well as counteraction to international
terrorism, the nuclear problem on the Korean Peninsula, and the situation
in the Middle East and North Africa.
Analysts point out that, apart from the political component, an
economic dialogue is also developing actively between Russia and ASEAN
countries which view the RF as one o key players in Southeast Asia. In
2010, RF-ASEAN trade turnover ran at $10,500 million, growing by 60
percent since 2006.
A Russian Foreign Ministry official recalled that this year will see
the15th jubilee of cooperation between Russia and ASEAN. "As a result of
the minsiterial meeting, the sides are to adopt a Joint Statement of the
Ministers of Foreign Affairs on the occasion of the 15th jubilee of
dialogue partnership. The Statement is to map out additional joint steps
towards further interaction, including that in the interests of refinement
of the architecture of security and cooperation in the Asia-Pacific Region
(APR)," the Ministry official pointed out.
Within the scope of an EAS ministerial meeting, the sides will discuss
matters aimed at preparing the 6th summit of EAS which is to be held on
Bali Island from November 17 to 19 within the framework of ASEAN annual
top-level arrangements.
"Those present at the minsiterial meeting are also to analyze joint
programmes for energy, finances, education, health care,t he prevention of
emergencies, and elimination of their aftermath," the Russian Ministry
official said.
The EAS machinery, which was brought into being in 2005 on the
initiative of ASEAN and aimed at strengthening peace, stability, and
economic prosperity in the APR, now brings together ten ASEAN countries,
as well as Australia, India, China, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea,
the Russian Federation, the United States, and Japan. Russia officially
joined this forum (together with the US) in October 2010.
"Russia views EAS as an important factor in the fashioning of an
all-embracing, balanced, and open architecture in the APR, commensurate
with the present-day challenges to security," the Russian Foreign Ministry
official pointed out.