Problem of peace treaty can be solved itself - Japanese ex-premier.

9/9 Tass 381

MOSCOW, September 9 (Itar-Tass) - Japanese former premier Yukio
Hatoyama said the problem of a peace treaty could be solved itself if both
countries developed political, economic and cultural relations.
Speaking at the Diplomatic Academy of the Russian Foreign Ministry on
Thursday, Hatoyama said, "In recent years under the rule of President
Dmitry Medvedev Russia has taken serious steps towards modernisation of
the economy. Japan should support these efforts jointly with Europe and
actively contribute to developing relations with Moscow in the field of
cutting-edged technologies."
According to the former premier, "modernisation of the Russian economy
will, of course, facilitate the development of the dialogue between the
two countries." Among mutually beneficial fields of cooperation, he named
nuclear energy, space, communications and cutting-edged technologies. "By
providing technical assistance to Moscow Tokyo will help increase
productivity of the Russian industry. Moscow could help Tokyo in the field
of space research," he said.
In his opinion, "Russia needs to develop energy resources and work out
a strategy on the realisation of goods and management philosophy." "Joint
discussions between scientific and business circles of the two countries
would have a significant importance. Russia should be within the eyeshot
of the East Asian Community Concept put out by us [Japan] last year," he
said.
Commenting on prospects for signing the peace treaty between Moscow
and Tokyo, Hatoyama said, "It is necessary to form a common worldview."
"The problem of the peace treaty, particularly of Northern
Territories, can be solved itself if we develop political, economic and
cultural relations," the former premier said, adding, "The political
settlement is the unique way to solve the problem."
The South Kurile problem is the key obstacle for settling
Russian-Japanese relations in full. This territorial dispute has not been
settled since World War II. At that time all Kurile Islands were put under
control of the USSR. At present, several southern islands - Iturup,
Kunashir, Shikotan and Habomai are disputed by Japan.
-0-yur


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