Australian Trade Minister press release, APEC Russian Membership

MT151

14 September 1995

APEC: RUSSIAN MEMBERSHIP

In response to comments about APEC membership made by the Russian Ambassador in Canberra today, the Minister for Trade, Senator Bob McMullan, makes the following points:

Membership and participation issues are decided by a consensus of all APEC members.

The APEC position is that no new APEC membership applications are currently being considered because members decided in November 1993 to impose a three year moratorium on membership and to undertake a study of membership policies

- in making this decision, APEC Ministers recalled their view that consolidation and effectiveness were the primary considerations at this stage of APEC's development.

This position applies to all countries which have expressed an interest in joining APEC

- there is no sense in which we and other members of APEC are singling out Russia

: when Russia formally applied to join APEC in March this year, they were aware of the moratorium on new membership.

We have made it clear to Russia that we are happy to keep them well informed of developments in APEC.

Further information: John Flannery, (06) 277 7420

Bob McMullan Minister for Trade