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| Sunday, 20 June 2004 |
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Pakistan, Japan, Russia expected to sign amity treaty at ASEAN meet MANILA, (AFP) Pakistan, Japan and Russia are expected to sign ASEAN's "treaty of amity and cooperation" when foreign ministers from the 10-member grouping meet in the Indonesian capital later this month, according to documents obtained by AFP. The treaty governs relations among members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and says political and security cooperation should aim to promote regional peace and stability. ASEAN has been encouraging its dialogue partners to sign the treaty, believing it is a key diplomatic tool to boost regional security. After 30 years of dialogue with ASEAN, Japan in 2003 announced it would finally sign the treaty while nuclear power Pakistan in April "agreed in principle" to accede, the documents obtained from the foreign affairs office said. Russia is also expected to sign the treaty, they added. Russia and Japan belong to the 23-nation ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), Asia Pacific's main forum for enhancing political and security cooperation. Fellow member India in May endorsed Pakistan's application to join ARF, whose foreign ministers will also meet in Jakarta July 1 to 2 shortly after the ASEAN meeting. India had in the past blocked Pakistan's entry into the ARF on concerns it would take issues such as Kashmir to the forum. The two nuclear-capable countries have fought three wars since the subcontinent was partitioned in 1947. Relations have thawed in the past year and they have launched a dialogue process to clear up all issues. ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. |
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