JOINT DECLARATION OF THE FOREIGN MINISTERS OF
THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION AND
THE ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS ON
PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE AND SECURITY, AND PROSPERITY
AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC REGION

We, the Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation and the Foreign Ministers of Brunei Darussalam, the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Republic of Indonesia, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, the Union of Myanmar, the Republic of the Philippines, the Republic of Singapore, the Kingdom of Thailand and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, Members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN);

DESIRING to strengthen dialogue and cooperation to promote peace and security, prosperity and development, and respond positively to the challenges of a dynamic political, economic and security environment in the Asia-Pacific region, in accordance with the norms and principles of international law and the Charter of the United Nations;

CONFIRMING the significance of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) dated February 24, 1976;

RECOGNISING the importance and need to respect each other’s independence, sovereign equality and territorial integrity; the principles of non-interference in the internal affairs of other States and the non-use or threat of force; and the principle of mutual benefit in cooperation to promote regional peace, stability and development;

AWARE that security is complex in nature and requires an integrated approach covering political, economic, legal, diplomatic and other peaceful means to address it in order to ensure regional peace, prosperity and development;

CONSCIOUS of the developments in the international environment and the need for an international system that is fair, balanced and just;

DO HEREBY DECLARE:

I

1.         Russia and ASEAN (hereinafter collectively referred to as the Parties) will develop and consolidate their relations and partnership in contributing towards the harmonious co-existence of the States in the Asia-Pacific region.

2.         The Parties underscore the central role of the United Nations as the main body for ensuring global peace and security and international cooperation, and advocate a further enhancement of the effectiveness of the United Nations.

3.         While acknowledging the benefits of globalisation, the Parties will intensify cooperation in responding to the multi-faceted challenges posed by globalisation.

4.         The Parties will make joint efforts to enhance peace and security, and prosperity and development in the Asia-Pacific region.  In this respect, the Parties will further contribute towards the strengthening of multilateral cooperation and enhancing the effectiveness of existing multilateral regional mechanisms, particularly the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), by intensifying cooperation and deepening confidence building measures as the foundation of the ARF process in its future endeavours.

5.         Russia notes ASEAN’s efforts to encourage the Dialogue Partners to accede to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia and sign the Protocol on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ).

6.         ASEAN notes Russia’s efforts to promote peace and security in the region, in particular, within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

7.         The Parties recognize the importance of issues that can have an impact on regional security such as terrorism; separatism; organized crime in various forms, including illicit drug trafficking, the smuggling of psychotropic substances and their precursor, illicit small arms trafficking, cyber crimes, people smuggling, and trafficking in women and children. The Parties consider that these issues may be effectively dealt with through strengthening bilateral, regional and international cooperation at all levels and in a comprehensive manner.

8.         The Parties resolutely reject all acts, methods and practices of international terrorism and express their readiness to enhance cooperation in combating this global menace while stressing that the fight against international terrorism be undertaken on the basis of principles of international law, including the United Nations Charter.     

9.         The Parties reaffirm their adherence to the process of global disarmament and to the strengthening of regimes of non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, especially nuclear arms, and their delivery systems.

10.       The Parties will further enhance trade and economic cooperation in the context of strengthening multilateral cooperation and dialogue relations.  The Parties also resolve to promote development by enhancing development cooperation through joint cooperation activities in the agreed sectors within the framework of Russia-ASEAN dialogue relations.

II

With a view to effectively pursuing the above-mentioned purposes, the Parties will:

11.       Enhance political and economic dialogue and cooperation, and development cooperation between Russia and ASEAN by utilising existing mechanisms provided for in the dialogue relations, including the Russia-ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conferences, Russia-ASEAN Senior Officials’ Meetings, Russia-ASEAN Joint Cooperation Committee, and Russia-ASEAN Joint Planning and Management Committee;

12.       Consider establishing new mechanisms for cooperation, as appropriate with the evolution of Russia-ASEAN dialogue partnership, such as Russia-ASEAN summits in the future;    

13.       Establish ad-hoc expert/working groups, if necessary, to undertake cooperation activities in areas of common interest;

14.       Encourage information exchange between concerned agencies of Russia and ASEAN;

15.   Promote interactions and exchanges among their people, including contacts between research institutions and "think tanks" of Russia and ASEAN; and

16.       Explore and promote cooperation in international fora on issues of common interest and concern.      

III

17.       The Parties will develop and adopt appropriate plans of action and programmes of cooperation which correspond to the purposes and principles of the Declaration.

Done in duplicate on the nineteenth Day of June in the Year Two Thousand and Three in Phnom Penh, both texts being equally authentic.

Igor Ivanov Minister of Foreign Affairs  Russian Federation

Masna Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Brunei Darussalam HOR Namhong Senior Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Kingdom of Cambodia Dr. N. Hassan Wirajuda Minister for Foreign Affairs Republic of Indonesia Somsavat Lengsavad Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Lao People's Democratic Republic Datuk Dr. Leo Michael Toyad Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs (for the Minister of Foreign Affairs) Malaysia Win Aung Minister for Foreign Affairs Union of Myanmar Blas F. Ople Secretary of Foreign Affairs Republic of the Philippines Prof. S. Jayakumar Minister for Foreign Affairs Republic of Singapore Dr. Surakiart Sathirathai Minister of Foreign Affairs Kingdom of Thailand Nguyen Dy Nien Minister for Foreign Affairs Socialist Republic of Viet Nam