ID :
157157
Thu, 01/13/2011 - 20:40
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/157157
The shortlink copeid
Territory row settlement with Japan `impossible` now: Russia official
MOSCOW, Jan. 13 Kyodo -
Russia believes the settlement of a long-standing dispute with Japan over
sovereignty of islands off Hokkaido is impossible in the near term, a top
official of the Russian Foreign Ministry said Wednesday.
''Settlement is impossible for now,'' the official told Kyodo News, adding that
enhancing bilateral relations through measures such as economic cooperation
should come first.
The remarks were interpreted as suggesting that the Russian government will
shelve negotiations over the islands for the time being and instead encourage
Japanese corporations to start business and invest in Russia.
The Russian official expressed the view after President Dmitry Medvedev in
November visited Kunashiri Island, one of the four Russian-held islands claimed
by Japan off the northernmost of Japan's main islands, marking the first visit
by a Russian leader, including during the Soviet era.
The official also said Medvedev has made clear that no breakthrough will be
possible over the territorial issue without a change to the current situation,
apparently referring to the president's remarks on his Twitter website about
his meeting with Kan in Japan in November.
Shortly after his talks with Kan on the sidelines of the summit meeting of the
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, Medvedev said in a Twitter message
that he had told the Japanese prime minister that promoting economic
cooperation benefits both countries more than discussing an issue that cannot
be solved.
Kan protested Medvedev's visit during the meeting.
The Russian official emphasized the importance of strengthening overall
bilateral relations, saying such efforts will help Japan and Russia work
toward settling the territory issue as a result.
''Our policy toward Japan has not changed, and we just hope to enhance ties
with Japan,'' the official said, while referring to stepped-up activities by
Japanese businesses in the Russian market.
Tokyo and Moscow are at odds over the islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri and
Shikotan as well as the Habomai islet group -- known in Japan as the Northern
Territories and in Russia as the Southern Kurils -- which were seized by the
Soviet Union following Japan's surrender in World War II on Aug. 15, 1945.
In October 1956, Japan and the Soviet Union signed a joint declaration to end
wartime hostilities and restart diplomatic ties, in which the Soviets agreed it
would return Shikotan Island and the Habomai islet group to Japan following the
conclusion of a bilateral peace treaty.
The Russian official said that ''goodwill'' on the Soviet side was behind the
agreement included in the declaration and that Russia finds no reason to return
the islands as long as a peace treaty is not in place.
==Kyodo
Russia believes the settlement of a long-standing dispute with Japan over
sovereignty of islands off Hokkaido is impossible in the near term, a top
official of the Russian Foreign Ministry said Wednesday.
''Settlement is impossible for now,'' the official told Kyodo News, adding that
enhancing bilateral relations through measures such as economic cooperation
should come first.
The remarks were interpreted as suggesting that the Russian government will
shelve negotiations over the islands for the time being and instead encourage
Japanese corporations to start business and invest in Russia.
The Russian official expressed the view after President Dmitry Medvedev in
November visited Kunashiri Island, one of the four Russian-held islands claimed
by Japan off the northernmost of Japan's main islands, marking the first visit
by a Russian leader, including during the Soviet era.
The official also said Medvedev has made clear that no breakthrough will be
possible over the territorial issue without a change to the current situation,
apparently referring to the president's remarks on his Twitter website about
his meeting with Kan in Japan in November.
Shortly after his talks with Kan on the sidelines of the summit meeting of the
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, Medvedev said in a Twitter message
that he had told the Japanese prime minister that promoting economic
cooperation benefits both countries more than discussing an issue that cannot
be solved.
Kan protested Medvedev's visit during the meeting.
The Russian official emphasized the importance of strengthening overall
bilateral relations, saying such efforts will help Japan and Russia work
toward settling the territory issue as a result.
''Our policy toward Japan has not changed, and we just hope to enhance ties
with Japan,'' the official said, while referring to stepped-up activities by
Japanese businesses in the Russian market.
Tokyo and Moscow are at odds over the islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri and
Shikotan as well as the Habomai islet group -- known in Japan as the Northern
Territories and in Russia as the Southern Kurils -- which were seized by the
Soviet Union following Japan's surrender in World War II on Aug. 15, 1945.
In October 1956, Japan and the Soviet Union signed a joint declaration to end
wartime hostilities and restart diplomatic ties, in which the Soviets agreed it
would return Shikotan Island and the Habomai islet group to Japan following the
conclusion of a bilateral peace treaty.
The Russian official said that ''goodwill'' on the Soviet side was behind the
agreement included in the declaration and that Russia finds no reason to return
the islands as long as a peace treaty is not in place.
==Kyodo
