ID :
154582
Thu, 12/23/2010 - 18:10
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/154582
The shortlink copeid
Japan may swap envoy to Russia for mishandling Medvedev`s isle trip
TOKYO, Dec. 23 Kyodo -
The Japanese government is considering replacing Ambassador to Russia Masaharu
Kono for gathering what it considers insufficient information prior to Russian
President Dmitry Medvedev's November visit to a disputed island, government
sources said Thursday.
Kono is likely to be succeeded by Chikahito Harada, ambassador to the Czech
Republic, as early as January as part of Tokyo's efforts to rebuild its foreign
policy toward Russia, deemed an urgent matter by Prime Minister Naoto Kan and
Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara, the sources said.
It is rare for the Japanese government to replace an ambassador after less than
two years. Kono was appointed Japan's top envoy to Russia in February 2009.
Medvedev said in late September that he would soon visit Russian-held islands
claimed by Japan, but the Japanese Embassy in Moscow was dismissive about the
possibility in its report to Tokyo about the matter, they said.
Based on such information from the Foreign Ministry, Kan had maintained the
position that Japan did not see Medvedev's statement as a specific plan to
visit the islands off Hokkaido, called the Northern Territories in Japan and
the Southern Kurils in Russia.
But Medvedev visited one of the islands -- Kunashiri -- on Nov. 1, becoming the
first Russian leader to travel to any of the four islands since they were
seized by the Soviet Union shortly after the end of World War II. The other
three islands are Etorofu, Shikotan and the Habomai islet group.
Following the visit, Kan immediately recalled Kono to Japan for a status
report, and the ambassador explained that Medvedev's visit to Kunashiri
appeared strongly linked to internal factors in Russia ahead of a presidential
election in 2012.
The Japanese prime minister instructed Kono to gather more detailed information
before sending him back to Moscow.
Harada has served in posts such as director general of the Foreign Ministry's
European Affairs Bureau before being appointed to his current post in September
2008 and is said to have rich experience in Japan's foreign affairs involving
Russia.
==Kyodo
The Japanese government is considering replacing Ambassador to Russia Masaharu
Kono for gathering what it considers insufficient information prior to Russian
President Dmitry Medvedev's November visit to a disputed island, government
sources said Thursday.
Kono is likely to be succeeded by Chikahito Harada, ambassador to the Czech
Republic, as early as January as part of Tokyo's efforts to rebuild its foreign
policy toward Russia, deemed an urgent matter by Prime Minister Naoto Kan and
Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara, the sources said.
It is rare for the Japanese government to replace an ambassador after less than
two years. Kono was appointed Japan's top envoy to Russia in February 2009.
Medvedev said in late September that he would soon visit Russian-held islands
claimed by Japan, but the Japanese Embassy in Moscow was dismissive about the
possibility in its report to Tokyo about the matter, they said.
Based on such information from the Foreign Ministry, Kan had maintained the
position that Japan did not see Medvedev's statement as a specific plan to
visit the islands off Hokkaido, called the Northern Territories in Japan and
the Southern Kurils in Russia.
But Medvedev visited one of the islands -- Kunashiri -- on Nov. 1, becoming the
first Russian leader to travel to any of the four islands since they were
seized by the Soviet Union shortly after the end of World War II. The other
three islands are Etorofu, Shikotan and the Habomai islet group.
Following the visit, Kan immediately recalled Kono to Japan for a status
report, and the ambassador explained that Medvedev's visit to Kunashiri
appeared strongly linked to internal factors in Russia ahead of a presidential
election in 2012.
The Japanese prime minister instructed Kono to gather more detailed information
before sending him back to Moscow.
Harada has served in posts such as director general of the Foreign Ministry's
European Affairs Bureau before being appointed to his current post in September
2008 and is said to have rich experience in Japan's foreign affairs involving
Russia.
==Kyodo
