RUSSIA: Russian FM Sergei Lavrov and Japanese FM Masahiko Komura discuss peace treaty, economic cooperation and Asian missile shield in Moscow

Record ID: 465293

  • Title: RUSSIA: Russian FM Sergei Lavrov and Japanese FM Masahiko Komura discuss peace treaty, economic cooperation and Asian missile shield in Moscow
  • Date: 14th April 2008
  • Summary: (W3) MOSCOW, RUSSIA (APRIL 14, 2008) (REUTERS) (*** FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY ***) RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SERGEI LAVROV AND JAPANESE FOREIGN MINISTER MASAHIKO KOMURA ENTERING ROOM LAVROV, KOMURA AND DELEGATIONS GETTING SEATED MEDIA LAVROV ADDRESSING JAPANESE DELEGATION KOMURA ADDRESSING RUSSIAN DELEGATION JAPANESE DELEGATION AT TALKS RUSSIAN DELEGATION AT TALKS WIDE OF TALKS RUSSIAN AND JAPANESE FLAGS LAVROV AND KOMURA ENTERING MEDIA WIDE OF LAVROV AND KOMURA AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) MASAHIKO KOMURA, JAPANESE FOREIGN MINISTER, SAYING: "As for the territorial problem, at this moment each side has its position but we came to single view on continuation in the future of discussions in order to find mutually acceptable solution of this problem. During today's meeting concrete ideas for resolving this question were not mentioned." (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) SERGEI LAVROV, RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, SAYING: "As for the problem of the peace treaty, we agreed to further continue a serious dialogue, serious negotiations with the aim of finding final and mutually acceptable solution to this problem." MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) MASAHIKO KOMURA, JAPANESE FOREIGN MINISTER, SAYING: "When the Japanese side takes any decision we always taking into consideration the concerns of other neighbouring countries. as for cooperation with the USA on introduction of missile defence, I must say this is a forced act on the part of japanese side taking into account the situation with Japan and its neighbour North Korea which has done nuclear testing. I want to underline this is in no way directed against Russia." MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) SERGEI LAVROV, RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, SAYING: "As before, we believe, , and we have told our Japanese colleagues about it, the best way to track and if necessary neutralise possible missile threats is the creation of a collective system, what Russian President Vladimir Putin has talked about, which would unite the US, Europe, Russia and any other interested countries including of course Japan." LAVROV AND KOMURA LEAVING NEWS CONFERENCE
  • Embargoed: 29th April 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA4TV4FRTDGNJGJ1MA0BHTBNW82
  • Story Text: Russia and Japan agreed on Monday (April 14) that it would take time and patience to resolve a dispute over a chain of islands in the Pacific that has prevented the two neighbours from formally ending World War Two hostilities.

    "As for the territorial problem, at this moment each side has its position but we came to single view on continuation in the future of discussions in order to find mutually acceptable solution of this problem.
    During today's meeting concrete ideas for resolving this question were not mentioned" Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura said at a joint news conference after the talks.
    The territorial dispute, which has dragged on for six decades, was high on the agenda of the bilateral talks held in Moscow.
    Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that further meeting would happen to solve the dispute.

    "As for the problem of the peace treaty" Lavrov said, "We agreed to further continue a serious dialogue, serious negotiations with the aim of finding final and mutually acceptable solution to this problem."
    The islands in dispute are in the Kuril chain between Japans northern island of Hokkaido and Russia's far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula, with the closest just 15 km (9 miles) from Hokkaido, which will host this year's Group of Eight summit.
    They were seized by the Soviet Union after it declared war on japan on Aug. 8, 1945, just a week before Japan surrendered, sending about 17, 000 Japanese fleeing. neither side accepts the others sovereignty over the islands.
    During talks Komura defended Japans cooperation with the United States on a planned missile defence shield. Moscow has opposed the plan --and a similar system in eastern Europe -- saying it is a threat to Russian security.

    "When the Japanese side takes any decision we always taking into consideration the concerns of other neighbouring countries. as for cooperation with the USA on introduction of missile defence, I must say this is a forced act on the part of Japanese side taking into account the situation with Japan and its neighbour North Korea which has done nuclear testing. I want to underline this is in no way directed against Russia" Komura said at the new conference Lavrov said Russia did not believe that was the best response to any threat of rocket attacks.

    "As before, we believe, and we have told our Japanese colleagues about it, the best way to track and if necessary neutralise possible missile threats is the creation of a collective system, what Russian President Vladimir Putin has talked about, which would unite the US, Europe, Russia and any other interested countries including of course Japan" Lavrov said.
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