KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) a" The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) yesterday signed an economic cooperation accord with Russia, opening a new era of cooperation between the two sides.

The agreement was the first of a series of documents Moscow will sign with the region in

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov signed the agreement, which is expected to bolster the still-low levels of trade between the two sides. ASEANas trade with Russia accounted for only 0.4 percent of the regionas global trade in 2004.

"Weare very satisfied with the ministerial meeting," Lavrov said after inking the accord with his counterparts. "This economic declaration would form the basis for the comprehensive program of cooperation between Russia and ASEAN for the year 2005 through the year 2015."

Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said he welcomes Russiaas intention to play a bigger role in Southeast Asia.

"The potentials are there and we can move forward in order to create a more substantial relationship between Russia and ASEAN," Syed said.

Russiaas ties with the region so far have focused on political and security cooperation, but itas time to expand the relations to all areas, he said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold the countryas first-ever summit with ASEAN on Tuesday.

A copy of their joint declaration, obtained by The Associated Press, says the two sides are committed to "broadening mutually beneficial dialogue relations in all spheres and at all levels," to strengthen ties in all sectors and to regularize the summit.

Russia is not a member of the inaugural 16-country East Asia Summit to be held on Wednesday, but Putin will watch from the sidelines and will also be given an opportunity to address the groupas members in recognition that Russiaas membership application is being considered seriously.

Myanmar pressed by ASEAN on pledge to become democratic

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) a" Malaysia on Saturday said militaryruled Myanmar must let its neighbors monitor its pledge to become democratic, while Australia summed up frustrations over the juntaas slow progress so far, calling it glue flowing uphill.

"So far we have stood by Myanmar," Malaysian Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said after opening a business conference alongside meetings of the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Kuala Lumpur.

"Myanmar must realize that ASEAN has a lot of pressure. How can we speak on behalf of Myanmar if we are not certain of whatas happening in Myanmar?" he said.

Separately, Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, attending ASEAN meetings that will culminate in a broad regional summit Wednesday, said that his government is deeply concerned about Myanmaras lack of progress on democratic reforms.

"The progress there has been as fast as glue flowing up the hill," he said.

He said he made his views clear during a meeting Saturday with his Myanmar counterpart, Nyan Win, but received "the usual response" a" amounting to nothing.

On Friday, ASEAN foreign ministers demanded that Myanmar expedite democratic reforms and free opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

They also proposed a visit to Myanmar to appraise the situation firsthand. Myanmar has pledged to allow democracy under strong pressure from its neighbors as well as the US and other Western powers, but has so far failed to deliver.

Myanmar joined ASEAN in 1997 with the help of Malaysiaas lobbying and despite heavy opposition from the US and Europe, but its continued detention of Nobel peace laureate Suu Kyi has been an embarrassment to the bloc.

Earlier this month in Washington, US Assistant Secretary of State Chris Hill described the situation in Myanmar as "really quite appalling" and said ASEAN countries should pressure it to reform.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar told reporters that ASEAN would not suspend or expel Myanmar even if it fails to make progress, saying that would be counter-productive.

"We do not believe containment or isolation of Myanmar is the answer," he said. "It will do more damage to its people and the political process that we look for."

Instead, he said ASEAN will keep up the pressure on Myanmar and will urge the military junta to provide a clear timeframe as to when it expects to hold free elections.

Philippine Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo said ASEANas patience is being tested but noted that mounting public pressure will help force Myanmar to democratize.

The junta reopened a convention on Monday in Myanmar to set guidelines for a new constitution in a process it says will eventually lead to free elections. But critics are skeptical because the convention doesnat include Suu Kyias party.

ASEAN leaders meeting Monday and Tuesday plan to begin work on a charter for their 38-year-old regional bloc codifying principles of governance, human rights and democracy.

Zaid Ibrahim, chairman of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Caucus on Democracy in Myanmar, said the document could help hold Myanmaras junta accountable to basic rights standards.

Myanmaras junta seized power in 1988. It called elections in 1990, but when Suu Kyias party won a landslide, the military refused to hand over power. She has spent 10 of the past 16 years in detention, and her latest house arrest began in May 2003.

RP willing to relinquish ASEAN chairmanship

By GENALYN D. KABILING

KUALA LUMPUR (via PLDT) a"a" The Philippines is willing to relinquish its ASEAN chairmanship next year and give it to Myanmar only if it speed up its democratic reforms and release of democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo yesterday offered the Manilaas ASEAN chairmanship to Myanmar as enticement to get its roadmap to democracy on track.

Romulo acknowledged that ASEAN member-nations, including the Philippines, are growing impatient with the slow pace of Myanmaras democratic reforms and want to see concrete results.

"I would rather that the roadmap to democracy was implemented by Myanmar and release Aung San Suu Kyi and therefore would be the chair in 2006 rather than the Philippines," he said in a news conference at the Saloma Restaurant here.

The Philippines is scheduled to host the next annual summit of 10 ASEAN leaders next year.

Romulo lamented that President Arroyo has previously appealed to Myanmar to comply with the roadmap to democracy but hardly any progress has been made.

"We have been defending Myanmar for a quite long time, for the length of time that ASEAN accepted Myanmar but unfortunately there has been no movement, no progress as far as the roadmap to democracy," he said.

Romulo said almost all of the foreign ministers from ASEAN have also expressed "dismay and concern" about the lack of movement towards democracy in Myanmar as well as its decision to move its new capital.

He reiterated the appeal to ruling junta to allow the National League for Democracy to participate in the Myanmaras political life, particularly in the drafting of a new constitution, and the return to Myanmar of the special envoy to Myanmar of the United Nations Secretary General.

He expressed optimism that Myanmar would also grant the latest proposal of ASEAN to visit the troubled country and check on the jailed democracy leader.

Romulo said the Myanmar foreign minister promised to bring up the ASEAN concerns to the high officials in his country.

"The Philippines continues to support the efforts of the government of Myanmar to bring true and meaningful reforms," he added.

Myanmar, which joined ASEAN in 1997, is causing unease within the grouping due to its human rights record.