South Kuriles problem cannot be settled quickly

TOKYO, November 8 (Itar-Tass) -- Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan
stated on Monday that he does not see any prospects for a quick solution
to the problem of the South Kuriles and called for changing the tactics in
the negotiations with Russia on the territorial dispute. "This cannot be
settled at one round of negotiations, one meeting," he said in reply to a
question of a deputy from the budget committee of the lower house of
Japanese parliament. "It is necessary to change the strategy and focus all
the efforts on bringing back the islands," the premier noted. However, the
prime minister did not elaborate how he intends to change the approach to
the negotiations with Russia.
During the debates in the same parliamentary committee Japanese
Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara put it clearly that Russia's successes in the economic development of the South Kuriles make the country's position at the negotiations stronger.
"Russia is building up investments on four northern islands and is promoting their integration in Russia.
We are facing a difficult situation. We should change the policy drastically," the minister said.
The foreign minister recalled that the massively-funded special
program for the socio-economic development of the South Kuriles has been implemented since 2007.
"Russia became richer in financial terms, the country has found the funds for the development of these islands.
The second stage of the program for the development of the islands will be launched next year, the allocations are made in the infrastructure, fisheries and tourism development. We are concerned that this fact will affect the negotiations with Russia," the foreign minister said.