355. The application of the Federation of Russia for full Dialogue Partner status was considered at the special Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) in Jakarta on July 8 1996. The Meeting agreed to make a recommendation to the Foreign Ministers that Russia be elevated to the status of full dialogue Partner. This Foreign Ministers, in turn, endorsed this recommendation at the 29th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM) in Jakarta in July 1996.

356. During the period under review, the Russian Federation participated in the 28th ASEAN Post Ministerial Conferences held on 2-3 August 1995 and the Second ASEAN Regional Forum held on 1 August 1995 in Bandar Seri Begawan. In support of the ARF process, the Russian Federation hosted a track two ARF seminar on principles of security and stability in the Asia-Pacific on 23-24 April 1996 in Moscow.

357. During the visit, it was agreed in principle that an ASEAN-Russia Committee in Science and Technology be established. The Russian side presented the draft terms of reference for the establishment of the committee. The Russians also offered to hold the inaugural committee meeting in Moscow in early October 1996.

358. The ASEAN Committee on Science and Technology (COST), which met from 21-25 August 1995 in Bangkok, deliberated over the proposed cooperation between ASEAN and the Russian Federation in the field of science and technology. COST also exchanged views and information on the on-going bilateral cooperation between the Russian Federation and the individual ASEAN Member Countries. COST agreed to consider the possibility of establishing an ASEAN-Russia Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation when it met in March 1996.

359. At the invitation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, the Secretary-General of ASEAN visited Moscow between 3 and 7 June 1996. The Secretary-General was accompanied by the Chairman of the ASEAN Committee on Science and Technology (COST).