TOKYO, October 24. /TASS/. Russia and Japan as neighbors need channels for conducting a dialogue even in the current difficult situation, where negotiations on a peace treaty are frozen amid sanctions, Taisuke Abiru, senior research fellow at Japan’s Sasakawa Peace Foundation (one of the country's leading think tanks and charities), told TASS. On October 5, Abiru took part in a discussion at the Valdai Discussion Club forum in Sochi between Russian President Vladimir Putin and a number of international experts.
"Japan is an ally of the United States," Abiru recounted. "From the position of the West, it is now providing assistance to Ukraine and pursuing a policy of sanctions against Russia. In a situation like this, peace treaty talks are stalled. In the near future, it will be difficult to expect a dramatic improvement in relations between Tokyo and Moscow or, let's say, the lifting of Japanese sanctions against Russia."
"This situation," the expert believes, "is unfavorable for both countries, which are close neighbors. It is necessary to open the windows of dialogue whenever possible and to support the exchange of views, including that on security issues. Either party needs to know the partner’s views, for example, on the situation in our region. This is extremely important."
In the wake of Japan’s appointment of a new ambassador to Russia, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa said that her country, while maintaining sanctions against Moscow, intended to maintain contacts with Russia on issues concerning the economy, fisheries, and maritime security in accordance with its national interests.
On October 5, during a dialog with Valdai Discussion Club experts, Putin expressed Moscow’s readiness to accept a proposal for a dialogue, should Tokyo come up with such an initiative. He recounted that it was Japan that had imposed sanctions on Russia. Putin said Moscow was ready to respond to a proposal for contacts, provided it came from the party that had shut the door to a dialogue.