Russia was prepared to cooperate with Japan
While emphatically proclaiming that the Northern Territories are "our land," Russian President Dmitry Medvedev indicated in a TV interview that Moscow is willing to cooperate with Tokyo on joint economic development of the disputed islands.
Medvedev's live appearance with the heads of three major networks Friday appeared to mark a major change in Russian policy.
Asked about the Northern Territories, Medvedev said, "That is our land. However, we are prepared to enter into joint economic development, such as the creation of a free-trade zone, and I have passed along that proposal to Prime Minister Naoto Kan."
At the same time, Medvedev, who made a historic visit to Kunashiri Island in November, insisted that any cooperation with Japan on the Northern Territories would not mean that Moscow was prepared to hand over any of the four islands.
That would represent a major break from the Russian position of being prepared to turn over the Habomai islets and Shikotan Island to Japan once a peace treaty was agreed to by the two nations.
In Tokyo, a high-ranking Foreign Ministry official said Japan had not received any specific proposal about joint economic development from Russia.
During the interview, Medvedev pressed the Kan administration to rethink its position on the Northern Territories.
Asked about his visit to Kunashiri, he said, "While no one before me ever went there, the president can visit the island. Even if it is far away, it is still our land. To provide the people who live there the chance to lead human lives, we have to make decisions to improve infrastructure."
Russia has a plan for social and economic development of the Kuril islands lasting between 2007 and 2015.
Medvedev indicated that other top Russian leaders would also visit the Northern Territories.
Reports have surfaced in Sakhalin, which oversees the Kuril islands, that Prime Minister Vladimir Putin was also preparing a visit to check on the budgetary allocations for the social and economic development plan.
At the same time, Medvedev also indicated Russia was prepared to cooperate with Japan.
"Joint economic projects are the only way to bring Japan and Russia closer together," he said. "We can think about an integrated economic zone or free-trade zone. People could do business there. Japanese could visit the historic sites that are one of the special characteristics of the islands and even work there."
One casualty of Medvedev's Kunashiri visit would be Masaharu Kono, ambassador to Russia.
Medvedev said about Kono's planned replacement, "It is extremely disappointing that his career (as ambassador) will come to an end. That is not what we intended."
One reason for the lack of progress in negotiations on the Northern Territories was the difference of opinion among Japanese officials between those calling for the return of Habomai and Shikotan first and those who insisted that all four islands be handed over at once.
That difference was also behind the failure of Japanese officials to recognize that Moscow was changing its policy toward the Northern Territories.
Other recent events have also pushed the Medvedev government to take a different stance on the islands.
Taro Aso, when he was prime minister, and Seiji Maehara, who was state minister in charge of the Northern Territories, both publicly said Russia was "illegally occupying" the islands.
The Diet also passed a bill that stated the Northern Territories belonged to Japan.
With Russia having moved in a new direction on the Northern Territories, the question now is whether Japan will be able to reset its own policy toward the islands.
BY HIDEKI SOEJIMA CORRESPONDENT
source:
http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY201012260197.html
map : Ria Novosti
Medvedev's live appearance with the heads of three major networks Friday appeared to mark a major change in Russian policy.
Asked about the Northern Territories, Medvedev said, "That is our land. However, we are prepared to enter into joint economic development, such as the creation of a free-trade zone, and I have passed along that proposal to Prime Minister Naoto Kan."
At the same time, Medvedev, who made a historic visit to Kunashiri Island in November, insisted that any cooperation with Japan on the Northern Territories would not mean that Moscow was prepared to hand over any of the four islands.
That would represent a major break from the Russian position of being prepared to turn over the Habomai islets and Shikotan Island to Japan once a peace treaty was agreed to by the two nations.
In Tokyo, a high-ranking Foreign Ministry official said Japan had not received any specific proposal about joint economic development from Russia.
During the interview, Medvedev pressed the Kan administration to rethink its position on the Northern Territories.
Asked about his visit to Kunashiri, he said, "While no one before me ever went there, the president can visit the island. Even if it is far away, it is still our land. To provide the people who live there the chance to lead human lives, we have to make decisions to improve infrastructure."
Russia has a plan for social and economic development of the Kuril islands lasting between 2007 and 2015.
Medvedev indicated that other top Russian leaders would also visit the Northern Territories.
Reports have surfaced in Sakhalin, which oversees the Kuril islands, that Prime Minister Vladimir Putin was also preparing a visit to check on the budgetary allocations for the social and economic development plan.
At the same time, Medvedev also indicated Russia was prepared to cooperate with Japan.
"Joint economic projects are the only way to bring Japan and Russia closer together," he said. "We can think about an integrated economic zone or free-trade zone. People could do business there. Japanese could visit the historic sites that are one of the special characteristics of the islands and even work there."
One casualty of Medvedev's Kunashiri visit would be Masaharu Kono, ambassador to Russia.
Medvedev said about Kono's planned replacement, "It is extremely disappointing that his career (as ambassador) will come to an end. That is not what we intended."
One reason for the lack of progress in negotiations on the Northern Territories was the difference of opinion among Japanese officials between those calling for the return of Habomai and Shikotan first and those who insisted that all four islands be handed over at once.
That difference was also behind the failure of Japanese officials to recognize that Moscow was changing its policy toward the Northern Territories.
Other recent events have also pushed the Medvedev government to take a different stance on the islands.
Taro Aso, when he was prime minister, and Seiji Maehara, who was state minister in charge of the Northern Territories, both publicly said Russia was "illegally occupying" the islands.
The Diet also passed a bill that stated the Northern Territories belonged to Japan.
With Russia having moved in a new direction on the Northern Territories, the question now is whether Japan will be able to reset its own policy toward the islands.
BY HIDEKI SOEJIMA CORRESPONDENT
source:
http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY201012260197.html
map : Ria Novosti
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