ID :
160237
Fri, 02/11/2011 - 08:31
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/160237
The shortlink copeid
Cold reigns in Moscow as Japan's Maehara arrives
MOSCOW (Itar-Tass) - Weathermen said Friday may be one
of the coldest days in Moscow this winter while political scientists said
Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara will arrive the same day to "melt
the ice" in bilateral relations that entered "a true winter" following
sharp statements of Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan over South Kuril
Islands claimed by Japan as its Northern territories.
On the Northern territories day this week Kan said the visit of
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to the islands last year was an
"unforgivable outrage" while radicals desecrated the Russian national flag
at the Russian embassy in Tokyo.
Many experts feared Maehara's visit to Moscow might be cancelled as a
result, however the parties decided that cancelled contacts would not
promote an efficient search for points of coincidence.
Still Medvedev reiterated on the eve of Maehara's visit that four
South Kuril Islands "are an integral part of Russia."
"It is our strategic region and we shall take the necessary effort to
enhance our presence there," Medvedev said.
However he called on all interested parties to join the economic
development of the islands. He said all who "are not insulted" by such
cooperation are invited.
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on the eve of Maehara's visit "we
have a broad agenda and hope for a constructive dialogue."
Maehara said in an interview with TASS he hopes "to expand the range
of cooperation and promote an atmosphere of mutual trust between our two
peoples."
"Japanese-Russian relations have a major development potential, but
currently it has not been used in full. I would like to change the
situation, but there is no magic remedy for that. I believe both Japan and
Russia shall be interested in promoting bilateral relations," Maehara said.
"I am deeply convinced that in new strategic conditions the
development of cooperation between Japan and Russia as partners in Asia
and the Pacific Rim meets the interests of both countries. At the same
time we are going to pay major attention to the economic sphere in order
to achieve concrete results, including in various projects," he added.
The projects, according to the minister, include energy supplies from
Sakhalin fields and through the East Siberia - Pacific Ocean oil pipeline,
the development of cargo transportation via the TransSiberian railway, and contribution to climate change issues and environmental protection.
In 2010 bilateral trade turnover doubled to 24 billion dollars and
several major investment projects were implemented.
Before departure to Moscow Maehara recalled he is arriving during cold Russian winter. "It (visit) will take place while winter is in full swing and the weather is very cold," he said and expressed hope the weather will not spoil his impressions of snowy Moscow.
of the coldest days in Moscow this winter while political scientists said
Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara will arrive the same day to "melt
the ice" in bilateral relations that entered "a true winter" following
sharp statements of Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan over South Kuril
Islands claimed by Japan as its Northern territories.
On the Northern territories day this week Kan said the visit of
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to the islands last year was an
"unforgivable outrage" while radicals desecrated the Russian national flag
at the Russian embassy in Tokyo.
Many experts feared Maehara's visit to Moscow might be cancelled as a
result, however the parties decided that cancelled contacts would not
promote an efficient search for points of coincidence.
Still Medvedev reiterated on the eve of Maehara's visit that four
South Kuril Islands "are an integral part of Russia."
"It is our strategic region and we shall take the necessary effort to
enhance our presence there," Medvedev said.
However he called on all interested parties to join the economic
development of the islands. He said all who "are not insulted" by such
cooperation are invited.
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on the eve of Maehara's visit "we
have a broad agenda and hope for a constructive dialogue."
Maehara said in an interview with TASS he hopes "to expand the range
of cooperation and promote an atmosphere of mutual trust between our two
peoples."
"Japanese-Russian relations have a major development potential, but
currently it has not been used in full. I would like to change the
situation, but there is no magic remedy for that. I believe both Japan and
Russia shall be interested in promoting bilateral relations," Maehara said.
"I am deeply convinced that in new strategic conditions the
development of cooperation between Japan and Russia as partners in Asia
and the Pacific Rim meets the interests of both countries. At the same
time we are going to pay major attention to the economic sphere in order
to achieve concrete results, including in various projects," he added.
The projects, according to the minister, include energy supplies from
Sakhalin fields and through the East Siberia - Pacific Ocean oil pipeline,
the development of cargo transportation via the TransSiberian railway, and contribution to climate change issues and environmental protection.
In 2010 bilateral trade turnover doubled to 24 billion dollars and
several major investment projects were implemented.
Before departure to Moscow Maehara recalled he is arriving during cold Russian winter. "It (visit) will take place while winter is in full swing and the weather is very cold," he said and expressed hope the weather will not spoil his impressions of snowy Moscow.
