Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan: Tokyo to continue political dialogue with Moscow

The Japanese side would like to continue the political dialogue with Russia, said Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida speaking to the Japanese reporters during his visit to Denmark.

“We want to continue to continue the political dialogue with Russia”, – said the head of the Japanese Foreign Ministry, refusing, however, to comment on the reaction of the Russian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday’s the introduction of new sanctions against Russia by Japan.

Japan’s government on Tuesday announced additional sanctions against Russia in connection with the situation around Ukraine. They provide for the suspension of the issuance of entry visas to representatives of 23 formal structures of Russia and other Russian citizens. The list will be published later.

In response, the Russian Foreign Ministry said they considered the decision of Tokyo on the sanctions to be counterproductive and promised that it would be answered.

Patrushev: Security Council of the Russian Federation “is ready for and interested in” cooperation with the Security Council of Japan

The Security Council of Russia “is ready for and interested in” collaboration with the newly established National Security Council of Japan, said Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev at a meeting with his Japanese counterpart Shotaro Yachi. “For Russia, Japan is a very important partner and it is important to establish good relationship between the Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and President Vladimir Putin. Our task is to help them develop this relationship,” – said Patrushev. He recalled that in 2012 between the Russian Security Council and the Foreign Ministry of Japan there had been signed a memorandum of understanding.

Head of the Security Council of Japan to travel to Russia on March 12

Head of the National Security Council of Japan Shotaro Yachi will go to Russia on Wednesday, March 12, to explain the Japanese government’s position on the situation in Ukraine to the Russian side, reported “Kyodo” agency.

Earlier Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed the intention to send an envoy to Russia in connection with the situation in Ukraine.

“Japan wants all participants in the situation in Ukraine to behave in a responsible and reasonable way, to act in accordance with the international law, and to respect the sovereignty and integrity of this country, – the head of the Japanese government said. – I send national Security Council head Shotaro Yachi to Russia for him to explain this position of our country.”

Ministry of Defense of Japan: the country would like to continue developing relations with Russia in the field of defense

The Government of Japan would like to continue developing relations with Russia in the field of defense and security, as before, “if relations between Russia and the U.S. are revived.” This was stated by Minister of Defense of Japan Itsunori Onodera.

Onodera also stressed that “this does not mean that Japan now introduces some restrictions” on the relations with Russia, “but being a part of the international community Japan would like to see in what direction the situation in Ukraine will develop”.

In Tokyo, on November 2, 2013 there was held the first meeting of foreign and defense ministers of Russia and Japan in the history of Russian-Japanese relations in “two plus two” format. 

Russia handed Japan a draft agreement on the abolition of visas for holders of diplomatic and service passports

Russia handed Japan a draft agreement on the abolition of visas for holders of diplomatic and service passports. This was announced by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov, speaking in the State Duma.

“We have raised this question before the Japanese colleagues (on the abolition of visas for service and diplomatic passports), – said the deputy minister. – We handed them a draft agreement, the theme is on the agenda. We’ll see how it will develop.”  

Morgulov added that Russia is ready for complete abolition of visas with Japan.

FDCS: Russia and Japan have almost identical approach to drug control

The approaches of Russia and Japan to anti-drug problems are common, and cooperation is developing in several directions, said the deputy head of the Federal Service for Drug Control (FDCS) Nikolai Tsvetkov in an interview with Itar-Tass. He has completed his official visit to Japan.

“It is also important that this year Russia became chairman of G8, and one of the priorities of the Russian presidency is anti-drug interaction and consolidation of global efforts to combat drug trafficking, – said Tsvetkov. – We have planned in the near future a number of important international events – an expert Meeting in preparation for the G8 summit, and in May there will be held a ministerial meeting.” And in all these phases Russia “expects full participation of Japanese colleagues.” During his trip to Japan Tsvetkov also visited a specialized medical center in the city of Yokohama.

Russia does not consider the situation with Japan on the issue of borders to be a territorial dispute

Russia does not consider the situation with Japan on the issue of borders to be a territorial dispute, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said at a press conference.

“Our point of view is based on the reality and the available documents that at various times were signed by Russia and Japan,” – said Lavrov . “The reality is that there are generally recognized results of the Second World War enshrined in the UN Charter, – the minister said. – We must take into account this reality.”

“There are documents between Moscow and Tokyo signed at different stages, – continued Lavrov. – There is an agreement to continue the work to find solutions satisfying both sides and acceptable for the people of both countries. Here are the criteria to follow.”

The Servicemen of Russia and Japan Discussed the Prospects of Bilateral Cooperation

Military cooperation issues were discussed today by Commander of the Eastern Military District (EMD) Colonel-General Sergei Surovikin during his meeting with Chief of Staff of the Ground Self-Defense Forces of Japan General Iwata Kiefumi who is visiting Russia, told Itar -Tass EMD press service chief Colonel Alexander Gordeev.

“Senior commanders of the two countries discussed the issues related to the maintenance of peace in the Asia-Pacific region, joint tactical exercises and other aspects of military-technical cooperation. During the meeting, there was reached an agreement on the return visit of the EMD delegation to Japan this year”, – he said.

Diplomats of Russia and Japan Discussed the Problems of a Peace Treaty between the Two Countries

On the last day of January Tokyo hosted another round of regular consultations at the level of deputy foreign ministers of Japan and Russia (from the Russian side – Igor Morgulov, from the Japanese side – Shinsuke Sugiyama).

“The consultations focused on the further promotion of Russian-Japanese cooperation, including the deepening of political dialogue, expanding of trade and economic relations, development of contacts in the area of cultural exchanges in the light of the implementation of the agreements reached at the meetings of the leaders of the two countries in 2013”, – the Foreign Ministry’s website says.

According to the agency, there was also an exchange of views on a number of international issues, including the issues of security and reduction of the conflict possibilities in the Asian- Pacific region, there was also discussed the problem of a peace treaty between Russia and Japan.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan: the Arrival of the Prime Minister in Sochi to Help in Solving the Problems with Russia

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s participation in the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Sochi will help resolve the territorial dispute between the two countries, Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said Friday at a press conference.

Prime Minister Abe was invited to the opening of the Olympics by Russian President Vladimir Putin last fall. Meanwhile, the media reported that the prime minister would not be able to attend the opening of the Olympics because of the tight schedule in parliament, as well as due to the fact that the opening of the Olympic Games – February 7, coincides with the annual “Northern Territories Day” held in Japan. On Friday morning, the Japanese broadcaster NHK said about the intention of the Japanese Prime Minister to come to the opening of the Winter Olympics in Sochi.

Prime Minister Abe is expected to participate in traditional national convention for the return of the “northern territories” on February 7, and then immediately to go to Sochi to be in time for the opening of the Olympic Games.