Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Saltanov, an official representative of the president, said at a plenary session on Friday that this document "is of principled importance, as it means accession to the 1976 Bali Treaty."
He recalled that 10 Southeast Asian nations, as well as India and China are its members now.
In Mr. Saltanov's words, Japan and South Korea voiced their intention to join the treaty.
"The treaty is a political declaration on the norms and principles of relations between the states in the Southeast region," said the deputy foreign minister.
Konstantin Kosachev, the chairman of the State Duma international affairs committee, who made an additional report on the bill, recalled that yesterday the committee recommended this law for adoption.
He noted that the bill orders the Parties not to participate in any way in any activity that creates a threat to the political and economic stability, sovereignty or territorial integrity of any other Party.
Besides, in the deputies' opinion, the Treaty's provision on the guarantees of equal participation in it of all the states outside of the Asia Pacific region is important as well.
