THE ASIA-PACIFIC SECURITY DIALOGUE AGENDA - A RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE

In the article an attempt is made to observe several key sets of issue s of multilateral dialogue on security in the Asia Pacific with regard to their relation to global changes and the region's specific feature s, as well as to introduce a Russian approach to some of these issues. The presentation is based on a perception that in order tee hold an e ffective dialogue, global and regional dimensions of the Asia-Pacific security should be seen as mutually correlating rather than contradict iory, with due attention to traditional values and the experience of t he region. Global changes (the end of tile Cold War and bipolarity, tr ansition to multirelevant policy, etc.) has led to general improvement of the situation in the Asia Pacific despite the remaining existence of the conflict potential, The ''traditional'' lack of regional negoti ating mechanisms is gradually being replaced by emergency of dialogues anti, other fora and the trend of multipolarity, which makes prospect s for ensuring regional security promising. Movement towards a future regime of security and stability is considered to be based mainly on a network of multilateral cooperation, without attempts to introduce pr e-decided ''master plans,'' it implies a concept of a cooperation ''fo r all and by all'' members of regional community, and it makes expedie nt a comprehensive approach to security including all dimensions-polit ical, military, economic, ecological, etc. The Asia Pacific policy of the Russian Federation is described as oriented towards developing nor mal, hopefully partnership relations with all regional states, providi ng political conditions for reliable regional security, and accelerati on of our own economic development through participation in integratio nal processes. This policy ''eastward'' is considered as a constant el ement of global Russian diplomacy, both vital for own prosperity and c ontributing to international peace. One of the major tasks of multilat eral efforts towards regional peace is seen as connected with the work ing out of a ''code of behavior'' on the part of the Asian-Pacific nat ions. One view related to indication of such principles of regional in tegration is illustrated by the Russian proposal for a declaration on principles of security and stability in the Asia Pacific. Regarding re gional CBMs a list of options is introduced incorporating both global experience and local realities, including a Russian proposal for regio nal crisis prevention center.