Russia invites Japan to participate in fishery projects.

18/2 Tass 68

TOKYO, February 18 (Itar-Tass) -- The Russian Federal Fishery Agency's
head Andrei Krainy has offered Japan to cooperate in the Southern Kuril
Islands, where, he notes, there already is an agreement with China to set
up a joint company and talks are underway with South Korean business. He
said this in an interview to Japanese public television NHK.
"Fishermen, fishing companies should work together and invest," Krainy
said. "It is in the interests of both Japan and Russia."
The fishery agency chief noted the issues of economic cooperation
should be separated from the talks on the territorial problem.
According to him, there already is an agreement with a Chinese company
to set up a joint venture on the Kuriles' Kunashir Island to breed
trepangs and scallops. Similar negotiations are under way with the South
Korean side, Krainy said.
Tokyo opposes economic projects in the Southern Kuriles if they
require the registration of Russian documents, which will indirectly
confirm the sovereignty of the Russian Federation in these territories.
Nevertheless, during the visit to Moscow on February 11-12, Japanese
Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara spoke in favour of holding high level
consultations on joint economic activities on the islands. However, he
stressed that such cooperation should not prejudice the legal position of
Tokyo in the negotiations on the Southern Kuriles.
-0-pan/ast


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