Koizumi shrine visit blasted as leaders meet
(AFP/Kyodo)
Updated: 2005-12-11 09:23

Russia moved closer to winning full membership in the new grouping on Saturday, signing an economic cooperation accord expected to deepen its ties with Southeast Asia -- a prerequisite for joining.

After meeting his counterparts here, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov voiced satisfaction with the agreement. "The economic declaration signed today is developing our legal basis for cooperation further," he told reporters.

Russia will attend the East Asia Summit Wednesday as a guest after being refused full membership due to a split within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) over its membership.

But Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said there was now a mood within the grouping to have Russia included at some point in the future.

"I feel that the underlying factor is countries are interested to see Russia get into East Asia... It is up to the leaders to decide whether now or later on," he told reporters.

"I think many ASEAN ministers have expressed that they hope to see Russia on board in the East Asia Summit at some future date."

Australia also signed a key document at Saturday's meetings as Foreign Minister Alexander Downer put his name to a regional non-aggression pact -- a move needed to become a part of the East Asia Summit.

The Australian government of Prime Minister John Howard had opposed signing the accord, fearing it could undermine the "war on terror," but Downer signed the deal to ensure Australia would have a voice in the summit.

Downer dismissed as "puerile" recent comments by Malaysia's former premier Mahathir Mohamad that it would act as a deputy sheriff for America in the grouping.

"I think even you could move beyond the puerile allegations of a deputy sheriff," he snapped at a reporter.

Downer was highly critical of Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, which also came in for heavy criticism from ASEAN nations here on Friday over its unmet pledges on democracy and human rights.

"There has not been any progress," Downer said. "It's like glue flowing up a hill."