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Asia`s top security forum opens talks in the Cambodian capital
Phnom Penh, June 18: Asia`s top security grouping began annual talks in the Cambodian capital today during which the issues of North Korea, Myanmar and terrorism are expected to dominate.
Phnom Penh, June 18: Asia's top security grouping began annual talks in the Cambodian capital today during which the issues of North Korea, Myanmar and terrorism are expected
to dominate.
The 10th Asean Regional Forum (ARF) meeting is being
attended by foreign ministers and senior officials from its 23
members, including the United States, Russia, China, the
European Union, Japan and North Korea.
US Secretary of State Colin Powell is expected to deliver tough messages to the forum on North Korea -- whose nuclear aspirations are the region's most alarming security challenge -- and Myanmar, where the military leaders have launched a harsh crackdown on democracy activists in recent weeks.
The meeting follows two days of talks among Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) foreign ministers, who made the unprecedented move of calling for the early release of member Myanmar's opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Asean, which groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, has traditionally maintained a strict policy of non-interference in the domestic affairs of its members.
The ARF was formed in 1994 with a mandate to help maintain regional peace and stability.
The grouping is comprised of Asean plus India, Australia, Canada, China, the European Union, Japan, Mongolia, New Zealand, South Korea, North Korea, Papua New Guinea, Russia and the United States.
Members are expected to consider the admission of Pakistan to the ARF during today's meet.
Bureau Report
US Secretary of State Colin Powell is expected to deliver tough messages to the forum on North Korea -- whose nuclear aspirations are the region's most alarming security challenge -- and Myanmar, where the military leaders have launched a harsh crackdown on democracy activists in recent weeks.
The meeting follows two days of talks among Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) foreign ministers, who made the unprecedented move of calling for the early release of member Myanmar's opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Asean, which groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, has traditionally maintained a strict policy of non-interference in the domestic affairs of its members.
The ARF was formed in 1994 with a mandate to help maintain regional peace and stability.
The grouping is comprised of Asean plus India, Australia, Canada, China, the European Union, Japan, Mongolia, New Zealand, South Korea, North Korea, Papua New Guinea, Russia and the United States.
Members are expected to consider the admission of Pakistan to the ARF during today's meet.
Bureau Report