Sergei Lavrov and Fumio Kishida
In Tokyo began negotiations of the foreign Ministers of Russia and Japan, Sergei Lavrov and Fumio Kishida. On Monday, March 20, RIA Novosti reported.
The latter, in particular, noted that he intends to discuss with his Russian counterpart the whole complex of relations between the two countries. “We will discuss a wide range of issues, including, in the preparation of the visit of the Prime Minister (of Japan Shinzo) Abe to Russia in a short time this year”, — quotes its Agency.
Kishida also stressed that his plans are to cover in your conversation with Lavrov the joint economic activities of Japan and Russia on the South Kuril Islands. “I would like to discuss with the Minister issues of joint economic activities, a visit to former residents of the Islands based on consultations at the Deputy Minister level in order to conclude a peace Treaty, according to the decision of our leaders to accelerate this process”, — said the head of the Japanese foreign Ministry.
According to him, regional security issues, including nuclear and missile programs expected to discuss on March 20 in the format of “2+2” with the participation of Ministers of defence Sergei Shoigu and Tomomi Inada.
In turn, Sergey Lavrov expressed hope on the development of participants of negotiations common positions. “Today, we are in the second half of the day will resume meeting “2+2″, and I think that it is an important event, has accumulated a number of topics that are important in this format to discuss our approaches and it is desirable to develop a common position”, — quotes RIA Novosti his words.
The first round of consultations at the level of Deputy foreign Ministers Igor Morgulov and Takeo Akiba on joint economic activities on southern Kuriles took place on March 18.
To understand this issue, Moscow and Tokyo agreed during the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to Japan on 15-16 December 2016. Abe has repeatedly voiced a view, according to which the joint economic activities on southern Kuriles will be a step forward for the conclusion between Russia and Japan the peace Treaty that was signed after the Second world war.
The solution to this problem official Tokyo links with settlement of the dispute of the territorial jurisdiction of the Islands of Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan and Habomai. In their claims they Japan refers to the bilateral Treatise about trade and borders of 1855. Moscow insists that the South Kuril Islands became part of the Soviet Union at the end of the Second world war, the Russian sovereignty over them has the necessary international-legal registration and not be questioned.