Kuala Lumpur, July 25, IRNA � The foreign ministers of ten members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have agreed on Iran's joining to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation.


The member states reached the agreement Monday at the 49th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting and related meetings in Laos from July 23-26.

ASEAN members include Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Brunei, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar and Cambodia.

The bill on joining the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia was presented by Iran's Foreign Ministry to the Majlis (Parliament) three years ago.

The 1976 Treaty of Amity and Cooperation is a peace treaty among Southeast Asian countries.

According to the ASEAN website, the purpose of that treaty is to promote perpetual peace, everlasting amity and cooperation among their peoples which would contribute to their strength, solidarity and closer relationship.

By IRNA