Aso vows to resolve island row with Russia, calls for public support

TOKYO, Feb. 7 Kyodo - Prime Minister Taro Aso on Saturday underscored his determination to resolve a
longstanding territorial dispute with Russia, calling on the government and the
Japanese people to work together to that end at an annual rally calling for the
early return of all four Russian-held islands off Hokkaido in northern Japan.
This year's gathering on ''Northern Territories Day'' came amid fresh disputes
recently over Russia's requirement for disembarkation cards to enter the
islands. It also took place ahead of plans for Aso to meet Russian President
Dmitry Medvedev on Feb. 18.
''Russia is an important neighbor for building peace and stability in the
Asia-Pacific region,'' Aso said. ''And in order to raise our relations with
Russia to a higher dimension, it is essential to reach a final solution to the
issue of the Northern Territories, which is the biggest pending issue.''
Aso also reassured the public that the government is continuing negotiations
with Russia ''with firm determination'' to resolve the sovereignty dispute and
work toward concluding a peace treaty.
''In order to bring progress to the bilateral negotiations, it is important for
the government and the people to unite their efforts to resolve this (Northern
Territories) issue,'' the prime minister said.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone reiterated Japan's
dissatisfaction over Russia's demand last month for Japanese officials to
submit disembarkation cards to enter the four islands, leading Japan to cancel
its annual goodwill mission of medical and other humanitarian aid to island
residents this year.
But Nakasone also stressed that his ministry is engaged in serious negotiations
with Moscow to seek a solution compliant with Japan's legal stance to enable
the resumption of the aid mission and called for continued support from the
public.
To underscore the need to further mutual understanding between the Japanese and
Russian people, Nakasone said, ''The exchange programs and activities to aid
residents on the four islands play a crucial role in promoting understanding
between our people and the islands' residents, and to foster an atmosphere for
peace treaty negotiations.''
More than 1,000 people, including former Japanese islanders and
parliamentarians from the ruling and opposition parties, attended the rally.
The dispute over the four islands -- Kunashiri, Etorofu, Shikotan and the
Habomai islets -- has kept the two nations from concluding a post-World War II
peace treaty.
The Soviet Union occupied the islands, known in Japan as the Northern
Territories and in Russia as the Southern Kurils, at the end of World War II.
Japan and Russia are arranging for talks between Aso and Medvedev on Sakhalin
Island on Feb. 18. If realized, it would be the first trip by a postwar
Japanese prime minister to visit Sakhalin and the Northern Territories issue is
expected to be on the agenda.
Feb. 7 is designated Northern Territories Day because on the same day in 1855,
Japan and Russia concluded the Treaty of Commerce, Navigation and Delimitation
in which they confirmed that the four islands are Japanese territory.
To raise awareness among the public on the territorial issue, the government is
supporting related events nationwide on the day.
==Kyodo