Japan-Russia Relations Developing Positively: Putin Aide

Tokyo, Nov. 1 (Jiji Press)--Valentina Matviyenko, a close aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, said Tuesday that the relationship between Russia and Japan is developing positively. At a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Matviyenko, visiting chair of the Federation Council, the upper chamber of Russia's parliament, said she hopes that the two nations' relations will become even stronger. Abe and Matviyenko exchanged views on preparations for Putin's planned visit to Japan in December. At a meeting earlier in the day with Natsuo Yamaguchi, leader of Komeito, the coalition partner of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, Matviyenko showed her expectations that Putin's visit will lead to a new bilateral agreement. Matviyenko voiced strong concerns over Japan's possible introduction of an advanced U.S. ground-based missile defense system, called Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD. The THAAD deployment might create a regional imbalance, she said. Matviyenko held a separate meeting with Chuichi Date, president of the House of Councillors, the upper chamber of the Diet, Japan's parliament. At a press conference, meanwhile, Matviyenko said there is doubt about Russia's sovereignty over four northwestern Pacific islands claimed by Japan. Russia's position on the islands has not changed, she said, adding that Moscow cannot relinquish its sovereignty over the islands and has no reason to do so. No territorial talks are under way at present between Russia and Japan while negotiations on a peace treaty are being held, Matviyenko noted. The islands, located off Japan's northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido, were seized by the former Soviet Union from Japan at the end of World War II and are claimed by Japan. The territorial issue has prevented Tokyo and Moscow from concluding a peace treaty to formally end their wartime hostilities. It would be possible for Russia and Japan, for example, to carry out economic cooperation projects on the islands, and the Russian side is ready for such collaboration, Matviyenko told the press conference. But such projects should be conducted based on Russia's sovereignty over the islands and its legal framework, she said. END