ID :
116686
Thu, 04/15/2010 - 07:40
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/116686
The shortlink copeid
Japan, Russia to step up island talks, but don`t discuss details+
WASHINGTON, April 13 Kyodo -
Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev
agreed Tuesday to promote top-level talks toward settling a longstanding
territorial dispute over four Russian-administered islands off Hokkaido, but
failed to discuss further details.
Hatoyama told Medvedev that talks between the countries' leaders are
''essential'' in bringing an end to the decades-old feud, while the Russian
president said he has no intention of running away from efforts to resolve the
problem and is ready to engage in full-fledged discussions, according to a
Japanese government official.
The two leaders met for about 25 minutes on the fringes of the Nuclear Security
Summit in Washington,
But they fell short of making any fresh suggestions other than agreeing to meet
on the sidelines of upcoming international events -- the Group of Eight summit
in Canada in June, another global meeting in Russia in September and an
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference in Japan in November.
''We will be able to meet three times in total even if we don't include today's
meeting,'' the premier said.
The territorial row over the islands -- Etorofu, Kunashiri, Shikotan and the
Habomai islet group -- has kept the two countries from signing a post-World War
II peace treaty. Japan has been calling for control of all four, known in Japan
as the Northern Territories and in Russia as the Southern Kurils.
Immediately after taking office last September, Hatoyama said Tokyo and Moscow
could see progress on the dispute, possibly within six months, as he was
confident he could earn Medvedev's trust, citing his family's historical links
with Russia.
The name Hatoyama is well known in Russia as his grandfather, former Prime
Minister Ichiro Hatoyama, signed the Japan-Soviet Joint Declaration in 1956 to
resume bilateral ties.
Hatoyama also headed a Japan-Russia association until he took office as premier.
Among other issues, Hatoyama told the Russian president that Japan welcomes
last week's signing of a new disarmament treaty in Prague between Medvedev and
U.S. President Barack Obama.
''The world got good news'' ahead of the nuclear summit and ''we welcome
that,'' Hatoyama was quoted as saying.
The premier also said that Japan will help Russia modernize itself and develop
Eastern Siberia.
==Kyodo
Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev
agreed Tuesday to promote top-level talks toward settling a longstanding
territorial dispute over four Russian-administered islands off Hokkaido, but
failed to discuss further details.
Hatoyama told Medvedev that talks between the countries' leaders are
''essential'' in bringing an end to the decades-old feud, while the Russian
president said he has no intention of running away from efforts to resolve the
problem and is ready to engage in full-fledged discussions, according to a
Japanese government official.
The two leaders met for about 25 minutes on the fringes of the Nuclear Security
Summit in Washington,
But they fell short of making any fresh suggestions other than agreeing to meet
on the sidelines of upcoming international events -- the Group of Eight summit
in Canada in June, another global meeting in Russia in September and an
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference in Japan in November.
''We will be able to meet three times in total even if we don't include today's
meeting,'' the premier said.
The territorial row over the islands -- Etorofu, Kunashiri, Shikotan and the
Habomai islet group -- has kept the two countries from signing a post-World War
II peace treaty. Japan has been calling for control of all four, known in Japan
as the Northern Territories and in Russia as the Southern Kurils.
Immediately after taking office last September, Hatoyama said Tokyo and Moscow
could see progress on the dispute, possibly within six months, as he was
confident he could earn Medvedev's trust, citing his family's historical links
with Russia.
The name Hatoyama is well known in Russia as his grandfather, former Prime
Minister Ichiro Hatoyama, signed the Japan-Soviet Joint Declaration in 1956 to
resume bilateral ties.
Hatoyama also headed a Japan-Russia association until he took office as premier.
Among other issues, Hatoyama told the Russian president that Japan welcomes
last week's signing of a new disarmament treaty in Prague between Medvedev and
U.S. President Barack Obama.
''The world got good news'' ahead of the nuclear summit and ''we welcome
that,'' Hatoyama was quoted as saying.
The premier also said that Japan will help Russia modernize itself and develop
Eastern Siberia.
==Kyodo
