20 June 2002 00:00
ON A MEETING WITH THE HEADS OF THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS OF THE ASEAN MEMBER COUNTRIES (BASED ON MATERIALS OF THE DUMSKOYE OBOZRENIYE NEWSLETTER, NO. 82 (1236), JUNE 18, 2002)
Chairman of the State Duma of the Russian Federal Assembly Gennady Seleznyov has met with the heads of the diplomatic corps of the ASEAN member countries: the State of Brunei Darussalam, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the Republic of Indonesia, the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Republic of the Philippines, Malaysia, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Myanmar, the Republic of Singapore, and the Kingdom of Thailand.
Taking part in the meeting were the deputies coordinating the work of the deputies' groups for inter-parliamentary liaison with these countries: Elvira Yermakova, Vladimir Koptev-Dvornikov, Oleg Korgunov, Yuri Medvedev, Fandas Safiullin, Galina Strelchenko, and Tatyana Yakovleva; and the chairman of the inter-faction association (MDO) "Eurasia," Abdul-Vakhed Niyazov.
"The talk of Russian ties with the European Union cannot arouse a suspicion in anyone about the intentions of Russia to cooperate more widely and actively with ASEAN. Russia is a Eurasian country, it is interested in strengthening contacts in the Asia-Pacific region," Seleznyov declared. That's why the MDO "Eurasia" was established in the Duma enabling in the last two and a half years livening up the activities of the House in this direction. In addition, there function deputies' groups for liaison with the parliaments of the ASEAN member countries.
Seleznyov underscored also the active role of the diplomatic corps in strengthening the comprehensive relations between Russia and the ASEAN nations. Brunei and Myanmar so far remain the exception, noted Niyazov. But already inter-parliamentary relations will soon be established with Brunei. The role of the ASEAN member countries, he said, will increase when China, Japan and South Korea accede to them.
The MDO "Eurasia" has held three conferences on issues of concern to Russia and the ASEAN states; discussions covered many economic problems. Increasingly popular are economic contacts by business circles of the ASEAN countries with Russia's regions. But the limited nature of air links arouses common concern.
The Philippines' ambassador to Russia, Jaime S. Bautista, dwelt on problems of concern to the ASEAN diplomatic corps. It is the nonparticipation of Russia in the ASEAN Fund, the resources of which amount to 500 million dollars. They can go for joint projects with Russia, including in the field of the safety of tourists and students arriving in the Russian Federation from Asian countries.
Gennady Seleznyov gave an assurance that by the common efforts of executive and legislative authority the actions of hooligan groups, and the various manifestations of racism and extremism will be localized, "they in Russia do not bear a mass-scale character."
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