Abe, Putin Discuss Joint Activities on Disputed Isles under Special Framework

Nagato, Yamaguchi Pref., Dec. 15 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday discussed the possibility of the two countries jointly conducting economic activities on four disputed northwestern Pacific islands "under a special framework." During their five-hour talks at a hotel in a hot spring resort in the city of Nagato, Yamaguchi Prefecture, western Japan, the two leaders agreed that Japan and Russia will start negotiations on realizing the joint activities, a senior Russian government official said, adding that a joint document on the matter will likely be announced on Friday. Some Japanese and Russian government officials joined the Abe- Putin meeting in the first 80 minutes. Then, the two leaders held one-on-one dialogue, accompanied by interpreters, for 95 minutes. A dinner session was held later for two hours that was joined by economy-related ministers of the two nations. After the one-on-one session, Abe told reporters that he and Putin had "candid and very in-depth discussions" on free visits by former Japanese residents of the four Russian-held islands to their hometowns there, joint economic activities on the islands under a special framework, and a bilateral peace treaty. Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for Putin, told reporters that the issue of sovereignty over the islands was not discussed at all at the bilateral summit, according to media reports including one by Russia's Interfax news agency. The issue of Russia's sovereignty is not subject to discussion between the two nations, he said, adding that no talks were held at the Putin-Abe meeting on a deadline for bilateral peace treaty negotiations including the territorial issue. The islands, located off Japan's northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido and called the Northern Territories in the nation, were seized by the former Soviet Union from Japan at the end of World War II and have long been claimed by Japan. The territorial dispute has been preventing Tokyo and Moscow from concluding a peace treaty to formally end their wartime hostilities. Abe and Putin will hold talks again, in Tokyo, on Friday. Abe said that the results of the series of talks will be announced at a joint press conference he and Putin will hold in the Japanese capital on Friday after the second-round of their talks. A senior Russian government official told reporters that the two leaders are expected to instruct their countries' foreign ministries and other organizations to start talks regarding terms, formats and areas for the joint economic activities on the islands. The official also said that the joint activities would cover all four islands and would be conducted based on Russian laws. In response to this, a senior Japanese government official said Thursday night, "Russia, which controls the four islands, has no choice but to say so." The Japanese government has been insisting that Tokyo cannot accept such activities if they are carried out under Russia's jurisdiction. Abe and Putin are believed to have explored the possibility of carrying out the joint activities while putting aside the sovereignty issue, sources with access to the talks said. Putin arrived at Yamaguchi Ube Airport in the city of Ube in Yamaguchi Prefecture aboard a presidential jet on Thursday afternoon and then moved to Nagato, which is part of Abe's constituency for the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the Diet, Japan's parliament. This is Putin's fourth visit to Japan as Russia's president and the first since 2005. At the start of the 16th meeting between Abe and Putin, the Japanese leader said that he is happy to welcome Putin in his "hometown." In reply, Putin said he expects that their talks on Thursday and Friday will substantially promote the two countries' relations. Abe hopes to proceed with territorial talks with Putin based on the 1956 Japan-Soviet joint declaration that called for the return of the Habomais and Shikotan, two of the four islands, to Japan after the conclusion of a peace treaty. According to Russian officials, the two leaders agreed to resume so-called two-plus-two talks among the two countries' foreign and defense ministers. Japan and Russia held their first two-plus-two meeting in November 2013. But no such talks have taken place since then, due to Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014. At Thursday's talks, Abe and Putin also discussed a proposal to expand the existing visa-free visit program for former Japanese residents of the Northern Territories and Russians now living in the islands as well as an easing of Japanese multiple-entry visa requirements for Russians. Abe told reporters, "We reconfirmed the importance of Russia playing a constructive role in challenges facing the international community." Abe and Putin also exchanged opinions on the situations in North Korea and Syria. On Friday, Abe and Putin will announce more than 10 documents, including one on an eight-point economic cooperation initiative that the Japanese leader proposed to the Russian president at their meeting in Sochi, Russia, in May. END