ID :
96955
Sun, 12/27/2009 - 18:22
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/96955
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Japan's foreign minister begins his first visit to Russia.
TOKYO, December 27 (Itar-Tass) - Japan's Foreign Minister Katsuya
Okada on Sunday begins his first visit to Russia in his capacity.
During his two-day visit on December 27-28 he plans to discuss
"prospects for resolving the territorial issue in the two countries'
relations as well as the dates of Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's
possible visit to Russia," a Japanese diplomatic source told Itar-Tass.
"Special attention to the territorial issue will be paid at the talks
with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on December 28 and at the two
ministers' working lunch," the official said. In general "the talks with
Lavrov will continue for about three hours, which will allow to touch upon
a wide range of issues on the bilateral agenda."
Among other themes on the agenda of the talks will be "the development
of business cooperation, including that in energy, and its intensification
in the Asia-Pacific Region in the light of Japan's presidency over the
APEC forum in 2010 and Russia's presidency in 2012," the official said.
Bilateral cooperation in the Asia-Pacific Region "will be considered
proceeding from Prime Minister Hatoyama's statements that he sees Russia
as an important partner in this direction." The two foreign ministers also
"plan to study the situation on the Korean Peninsula."
The economic bloc of issues will be considered at the working meeting
of Katsuya Okada and Russian Industry and Trade Minister Viktor Khristenko
on Sunday as they co-chair the intergovernmental commission on trade and
economic cooperation.
Okada "will inform on the changes in Japan's policy that occurred
after the Democratic Party came to power," the official said.
The Japanese foreign minister "attaches great importance to his first
visit to Russia and hopes that it will contribute to stronger dialogue
between the two countries' foreign ministries," the source said.
The visit takes place following the meeting between Russian President
Dmitry Medvedev and Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama in New York in
September, where they agreed to promote the talks on a peace treaty and
continue discussions at the ministerial level.
.St Pete to resume ferry link with European cities in 2010.
ST PETERSBURG, December 27 (Itar-Tass) - St. Petersburg will resume a
ferry service with several European cities in 2010, said Alexei
Chichkanov, the chairman of the city's committee on investments and
strategic projects.
At present, the St. Petersburg city authorities are in talks with
several international cruise operators to open the ferry link between St.
Petersburg and European cities located on the Baltic Sea coast, he said.
"I believe that ferry boats will begin sailing in 2010," he said.
The resumption of the international ferry link became possible after
72-hour visaless rules for passengers of cruise liners entered into force
and after a new modern marine passenger terminal was built in St.
Petersburg, the committee's press service told Itar-Tass.
New Year cruises from St. Petersburg to Helsinki, Tallinn and
Stockholm will be an attempt to resume the regular link.
"Taking into account the results of these trips we will decide to what
European city ferry boats from St. Petersburg will sail," the press
service said.
The regular ferry link between St. Petersburg and European cities
existed until 1996. Since 2002 it was resumed by two large cruise
operators, but was disrupted again in 2006. Another attempt to open the
ferry service between St. Petersburg and Helsinki was made in 2008.
.Warehouse of Moscow's instrument plant on fire.
MOSCOW, December 27 (Itar-Tass) - A fire started at a warehouse of
Kalibr instrument plant in Moscow's northwest, spokesman of the Moscow
city emergencies department, Yevgeny Bobylev, told Itar-Tass on Sunday.
The emergencies department received a fire alert message at 00.05
Moscow time, he said.
"A warehouse at the plant's territory caught fire. The fire area
totals about 400 square meters," Bobylev said.
Fourteen fire fighting units are working on the site. No casualties
have been reported so far.
Six people have been evacuated.
-0-isk/
Okada on Sunday begins his first visit to Russia in his capacity.
During his two-day visit on December 27-28 he plans to discuss
"prospects for resolving the territorial issue in the two countries'
relations as well as the dates of Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's
possible visit to Russia," a Japanese diplomatic source told Itar-Tass.
"Special attention to the territorial issue will be paid at the talks
with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on December 28 and at the two
ministers' working lunch," the official said. In general "the talks with
Lavrov will continue for about three hours, which will allow to touch upon
a wide range of issues on the bilateral agenda."
Among other themes on the agenda of the talks will be "the development
of business cooperation, including that in energy, and its intensification
in the Asia-Pacific Region in the light of Japan's presidency over the
APEC forum in 2010 and Russia's presidency in 2012," the official said.
Bilateral cooperation in the Asia-Pacific Region "will be considered
proceeding from Prime Minister Hatoyama's statements that he sees Russia
as an important partner in this direction." The two foreign ministers also
"plan to study the situation on the Korean Peninsula."
The economic bloc of issues will be considered at the working meeting
of Katsuya Okada and Russian Industry and Trade Minister Viktor Khristenko
on Sunday as they co-chair the intergovernmental commission on trade and
economic cooperation.
Okada "will inform on the changes in Japan's policy that occurred
after the Democratic Party came to power," the official said.
The Japanese foreign minister "attaches great importance to his first
visit to Russia and hopes that it will contribute to stronger dialogue
between the two countries' foreign ministries," the source said.
The visit takes place following the meeting between Russian President
Dmitry Medvedev and Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama in New York in
September, where they agreed to promote the talks on a peace treaty and
continue discussions at the ministerial level.
.St Pete to resume ferry link with European cities in 2010.
ST PETERSBURG, December 27 (Itar-Tass) - St. Petersburg will resume a
ferry service with several European cities in 2010, said Alexei
Chichkanov, the chairman of the city's committee on investments and
strategic projects.
At present, the St. Petersburg city authorities are in talks with
several international cruise operators to open the ferry link between St.
Petersburg and European cities located on the Baltic Sea coast, he said.
"I believe that ferry boats will begin sailing in 2010," he said.
The resumption of the international ferry link became possible after
72-hour visaless rules for passengers of cruise liners entered into force
and after a new modern marine passenger terminal was built in St.
Petersburg, the committee's press service told Itar-Tass.
New Year cruises from St. Petersburg to Helsinki, Tallinn and
Stockholm will be an attempt to resume the regular link.
"Taking into account the results of these trips we will decide to what
European city ferry boats from St. Petersburg will sail," the press
service said.
The regular ferry link between St. Petersburg and European cities
existed until 1996. Since 2002 it was resumed by two large cruise
operators, but was disrupted again in 2006. Another attempt to open the
ferry service between St. Petersburg and Helsinki was made in 2008.
.Warehouse of Moscow's instrument plant on fire.
MOSCOW, December 27 (Itar-Tass) - A fire started at a warehouse of
Kalibr instrument plant in Moscow's northwest, spokesman of the Moscow
city emergencies department, Yevgeny Bobylev, told Itar-Tass on Sunday.
The emergencies department received a fire alert message at 00.05
Moscow time, he said.
"A warehouse at the plant's territory caught fire. The fire area
totals about 400 square meters," Bobylev said.
Fourteen fire fighting units are working on the site. No casualties
have been reported so far.
Six people have been evacuated.
-0-isk/
