ID :
184951
Fri, 05/27/2011 - 20:49
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/184951
The shortlink copeid
Kan airs regret over Russian deputy PM's visit to disputed isles
DEAUVILLE, France, May 27 Kyodo - Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan voiced regret Friday over a recent visit by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov to disputed islands off Hokkaido in a meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in the French resort town of Deauville.
But Kan and Medvedev also agreed to continue talks in a calm manner on the longstanding territorial row between their countries, a Japanese official said after the two leaders held talks shortly after a two-day Group of Eight summit meeting.
Kan referred to a protest lodged May 16 by Japanese Foreign Minister Takeaki Matsumoto to Russian Ambassador to Japan Mikhail Bely against a trip a day earlier to Etorofu and Kunashiri islands by a delegation led by Ivanov and four other Cabinet ministers.
It was the first visit by top Russian officials to what are called in Japan as the Northern Territories since the March 11 massive earthquake and tsunami that devastated wide areas of Japan's northeastern coast.
In a meeting with Medvedev, Kan explained Japan's position that the Russian-held islands are an integral part of Japan.
''We would like to make progress in the territorial dispute in the context of developing Japan-Russia relations in all areas,'' the Japanese official quoted Kan as telling Medvedev.
Aside from the territorial row, the two leaders agreed to promote exchanges of nuclear experts in light of the crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, crippled by the twin natural disasters. The official said the idea is aimed at sharing Russia's knowledge and experience of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear accident.
Kan and Medvedev also agreed to launch medium- and long-term talks on possible joint development of oil and natural gas.
They also reached an agreement that the two countries will promote exchanges of youths, including the visit of Japanese children from areas affected by the quake and tsunami for helping them to recuperate from psychological pain.
Among other topics, Medvedev called for Japan's support for Russia hosting annual meetings of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in 2012 and Kan agreed to do so, the official said.
As for Medvedev's invitation for Kan to visit Russia, the two leaders pledged to continue arranging the timing of the premier's trip through working-level talks.
Japan-Russia relations have soured since Medvedev visited Kunashiri Island in November, becoming the first leader of Russia or the Soviet Union to set foot on any of the disputed islands.
Despite repeated protests by Tokyo, several senior Russian officials have traveled to the areas since then.
The territorial dispute over the islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri and Shikotan as well as the Habomai islet group, which were seized by the Soviet Union following Japan's surrender in World War II on Aug. 15, 1945, has prevented the two countries from signing a postwar peace treaty.
A recent visit by three South Korean opposition party members to Kunashiri also dealt a blow to Tokyo as they apparently made the trip to the island by obtaining visas from Russia.
The visit by the South Korean lawmakers was not discussed in the Japan-Russia summit talks, according to another official.
The islands are known in Russia as the Southern Kurils.
But Kan and Medvedev also agreed to continue talks in a calm manner on the longstanding territorial row between their countries, a Japanese official said after the two leaders held talks shortly after a two-day Group of Eight summit meeting.
Kan referred to a protest lodged May 16 by Japanese Foreign Minister Takeaki Matsumoto to Russian Ambassador to Japan Mikhail Bely against a trip a day earlier to Etorofu and Kunashiri islands by a delegation led by Ivanov and four other Cabinet ministers.
It was the first visit by top Russian officials to what are called in Japan as the Northern Territories since the March 11 massive earthquake and tsunami that devastated wide areas of Japan's northeastern coast.
In a meeting with Medvedev, Kan explained Japan's position that the Russian-held islands are an integral part of Japan.
''We would like to make progress in the territorial dispute in the context of developing Japan-Russia relations in all areas,'' the Japanese official quoted Kan as telling Medvedev.
Aside from the territorial row, the two leaders agreed to promote exchanges of nuclear experts in light of the crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, crippled by the twin natural disasters. The official said the idea is aimed at sharing Russia's knowledge and experience of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear accident.
Kan and Medvedev also agreed to launch medium- and long-term talks on possible joint development of oil and natural gas.
They also reached an agreement that the two countries will promote exchanges of youths, including the visit of Japanese children from areas affected by the quake and tsunami for helping them to recuperate from psychological pain.
Among other topics, Medvedev called for Japan's support for Russia hosting annual meetings of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in 2012 and Kan agreed to do so, the official said.
As for Medvedev's invitation for Kan to visit Russia, the two leaders pledged to continue arranging the timing of the premier's trip through working-level talks.
Japan-Russia relations have soured since Medvedev visited Kunashiri Island in November, becoming the first leader of Russia or the Soviet Union to set foot on any of the disputed islands.
Despite repeated protests by Tokyo, several senior Russian officials have traveled to the areas since then.
The territorial dispute over the islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri and Shikotan as well as the Habomai islet group, which were seized by the Soviet Union following Japan's surrender in World War II on Aug. 15, 1945, has prevented the two countries from signing a postwar peace treaty.
A recent visit by three South Korean opposition party members to Kunashiri also dealt a blow to Tokyo as they apparently made the trip to the island by obtaining visas from Russia.
The visit by the South Korean lawmakers was not discussed in the Japan-Russia summit talks, according to another official.
The islands are known in Russia as the Southern Kurils.
