MOSCOW, January 29. /TASS/. A meeting between the Russian and Japanese leaders' special envoys, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov and his Japanese counterpart Takeo Mori, will be held soon, Japanese Ambassador to Russia Toyohisa Kozuki told TASS.
"During their recent meeting, our countries’ leaders issued instructions on further progress in negotiations, including holding the next round of talks between the foreign ministers in February, for example, on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, and talks between the two leaders’ special envoys," the diplomat said.
He recalled remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on the need for concerted efforts aimed at finding a mutually acceptable solution. "In accordance with that, all necessary work will be done in the future under the two leaders’ supervision," the ambassador added.
Tokyo is pleased with the results of talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on January 22.
"The leaders sincerely exchanged opinions on the issue of signing a peace treaty. They agreed to issue instructions at the working level to consistently and promptly advance joint work towards an early implementation of joint economic activity on four islands," the diplomat said.
"Focusing on humanitarian measures for the former residents of the islands, the sides saw eye to eye as to organizing visits to their ancestors’ graves by aircraft in the summer of this year," the ambassador added.
"The leaders welcomed the development of cooperation on the trajectory of economy and humanitarian exchanges, including the implementation of a cooperation plan of eight items, as well as reached common ground on giving a boost to positive tendencies," Kozuki went on to say.
"Discussing the international situation, the sides had a frank exchange of views and confirmed a bid to closely cooperate in the future on the issue of denuclearization of the Korean peninsula," he added.
"Thus, the leaders sincerely discussed prospects for the development of Japanese-Russian cooperation on different trajectories. I think this meeting was a good start for our relations in 2019," the ambassador stressed.
Tokyo expects the next meeting between Putin and Abe, which is scheduled to be held in June during the Russian leader’s visit to Japan, to be fruitful.
"For now, I would like to refrain from commenting on the upcoming meeting. I hope there will be a fruitful dialogue between the two leaders," the ambassador said, adding that Putin and Abe earlier agreed to hold the closing ceremony of the mutual year of Japan and Russia.
Peace treaty
The conclusion of a peace treaty between Russia and Japan will tap bilateral cooperation potential, Japanese Ambassador to Moscow Toyohisa Kodzuki told TASS on Tuesday.
The absence of a peace treaty more than 70 years after the end of World War Two is an abnormal situation, the ambassador stressed.
"Our bilateral relations have large possibilities and potential but as President [of Russia Vladimir] Putin noted at a press conference after a summit meeting, the potential of bilateral cooperation is not used in full," the diplomat pointed out.
"A peace treaty has to be concluded to fully tap the potential," the Japanese envoy said.
The treaty will make it possible to implement various results of cooperation at a completely different level, first and foremost, in the economic sphere, Kodzuki stressed.
"The development of the Japanese-Russian relations is also of strategic importance as it will contribute to peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region," the ambassador stressed.
"I am confident that the growth of the level of cooperation between Japan and Russia in solving various tasks on the international scene will become a plus for the entire world," the envoy said.
The Japanese government will continue the efforts to conclude the peace treaty with Russia, Kodzuki stressed.
Russia and Japan have been in talks to sign a peace treaty since the mid-20th century. The main stumbling block to achieving this is the ownership of the southern Kuril Islands. After the end of World War II, the Kuril Islands were incorporated into the Soviet Union. However, the ownership of Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan Islands and the Habomai Islands is being challenged by Japan. Moscow has stated on numerous occasions that Russia’s sovereignty over the islands is beyond doubt.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed at a meeting in Singapore on November 14 to intensify Russian-Japanese negotiations on signing a peace treaty based on the Joint Declaration of October 19, 1956.
The Russian and Japanese top diplomats last met in Moscow on January 14. Talks between Putin and Abe were held in the Russian capital on January 22.