Russia favors non-nuclear status of Southeast Asia, says Lavrov

MOSCOW, August 5. /TASS/. Russia is in favor of formalization of a non-nuclear status for Southeast Asia, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a Russia-ASEAN ministerial session on Wednesday. "We are aimed at the strengthening of nuclear non-proliferation regime in the region, including through formalization of the non-nuclear status of Southeast Asia," Lavrov said. "Together with other nuclear states we are ready to continue consultations with ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) in the interests of an early signing of the protocol to the Bangkok Treaty of 1995 on creation of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Southeast Asia," the top diplomat said. "Russia has major experience in the sphere of ensuring nuclear security, which we applied in the search of practical solutions that made it possible to settle the situation around Iran’s nuclear program," the minister said. "This is a positive example of cooperation, efficiency of a stage-by-stage dialogue and a diplomatic compromise," he added. Read more