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Overview of the Japan-Russian Federation Deputy Foreign Minister Level Consultations

July 24, 2002

On 24 July Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Toshiyuki Takano of Japan held Deputy Foreign Minister Level consultations with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexander Losyukov of the Russian Federation. The following is an overview of their consultations.

1. Overall Japan-Russian Federation relations

(1) Deputy Foreign Minister Takano made the following statements.

  1. Deputy Foreign Minister Takano welcomed the fact that the process of political dialogue between Japan and Russia had received renewed momentum, and expressed hopes that this would lead to progress in overall Japan-Russia relations. Furthermore, Deputy Foreign Minister Takano stated that he was encouraged to see the developments in cooperation between Russia and the international community, beginning with Russia's relations with the United States of America and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Deputy Foreign Minister Takano further stated that Russia's holding of the G8 Summit in 2006 would provide it an opportunity to fulfill an important role of responsibility in the international community.
  2. Deputy Foreign Minister Takano stated that he believed that these developments would exert a positive influence for improving Japan-Russia relations. Japan and Russia have yet to conclude a peace treaty and their relations are the only case among the G8 that have not yet been fully normalized. It is certain that achieving this would be a significant plus for both Japan and Russia, and for ensuring strategic stability in the Asia-Pacific region.

(2) In response, Deputy Foreign Minister Losyukov made the following statements.

  1. Deputy Foreign Minister Losyukov stated that he was certain that constructive and positive dialogue would continue between Japan and Russia. He mentioned that the Foreign Ministers of both Japan and Russia had instructed the officials in charge to further develop and make closer the relations between the two countries.
  2. At the same time, Deputy Foreign Minister Losyukov pointed out that overall relations between Japan and Russia were varied, and that on the positive side there was a growing number of people in Russia interested in advancing Japan-Russia relations, while on the negative side, the latent potential in economic and trade relations has yet to be maximized.

(3) Furthermore, both Deputy Foreign Ministers agreed that the Japan-Russian Federation Deputy Foreign Minister Level Discussions held this time were a starting point for preparations for a visit by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to Russia.

2. The issue of concluding a peace treaty

(1) Deputy Foreign Minister Takano made the following statements.

  1. Deputy Foreign Minister Takano stated that it is important to continue negotiations reflecting the results achieved thus far, beginning with the Japan-Soviet Joint Declaration of 1956, the 1993 Tokyo Declaration on Japan-Russia Relations and the Irkutsk Statement.
  2. As clearly outlined in the Irkutsk Statement, both parties have confirmed that the 1956 Japan-Soviet Joint Declaration is a basic legal document that established the starting point in the negotiation process for the conclusion of a peace treaty, and that both parties shared the recognition that they should solve the issue of the attribution of the four islands on the basis of the 1993 Tokyo Declaration on Japan-Russia Relations and conclude a peace treaty. As long as such a common view exists, unless a solution is reached to the issue of the attribution of Kunashiri and Etorofu, it could not be deemed that "the issue of the attribution of the four islands had been solved," and therefore the natural conclusion would be that it would not be possible to conclude a peace treaty.
  3. Furthermore, in addition to stressing the importance of both Japan and Russia continuing to earnestly negotiate, Deputy Foreign Minister Takano stressed the need to make efforts in the arena of public opinion.

(2) In response, Deputy Foreign Minister Losyukov made the following statements.

  1. The issue of concluding a peace treaty is the sole remaining major issue preventing development of Japan-Russia relations in other sectors. The Deputy Foreign Minister stated that he hoped that Japan and Russia would combine their wisdom to resolve this issue. This issue requires that both sides adopt a flexible approach and come closer to each other's positions. The Deputy Foreign Minister stated that there is a need to hold negotiations toward concluding a peace treaty based on agreement reached by both parties.

3. Preparations toward the visit by Prime Minister Koizumi to Russia

(1) Deputy Foreign Minister Takano made the following statements.

At the time of the Japan-Russia Summit meeting held on the occasion of the Kananaskis Summit in June 2002, the parties agreed that an Action Plan would be made between Japan and Russia when Prime Minister Koizumi visits Russia. That Plan will be a compilation of the achievements reached through cooperation between both countries and the direction for future development in Japan-Russia relations. Although there is a need to continue discussions, the direction for cooperation could encompass political dialogue, negotiations on concluding a peace treaty, Japan-Russia economic relations, cooperation on the international stage, and cultural and personnel exchanges.

(2) In response, Deputy Foreign Minister Losyukov made the following statements.

The Russian side is taking a proactive approach toward making the Action Plan. Deputy Foreign Minister Losyukov stated that he would instruct the officials at the working level to engage in thorough consultations and Deputy Foreign Ministers would oversee the progress.

4. Bilateral cooperation

(1) Afghanistan

Deputy Foreign Minister Takano stated that Japan recognizes the importance of cooperation on measures against drugs and that it was extremely good that consultations on the drug sector could be held at the time of the recent visit to Japan by Konstantin Totsky, Director of the Russian Federal Border Service. Furthermore he stated that Japan was giving forward looking consideration to conducting Japan-Russia cooperation in this sector through the United Nations Drug Control Programme (UNDCP). In response to this, Deputy Foreign Minister Losyukov stated that the fact that dialogue was intensified between the public safety institutions in charge of measures to counter drugs at the time of the visit to Japan by Director Konstantin Totsky was indeed a welcome development, and that he looked forward to cooperation from Japan in this sector and that he hoped to enhance discussions between the two countries on counter-terrorism measures. In response, Deputy Foreign Minister Takano stated that Japan would give positive consideration to the Russian proposal for discussions related to counter-terrorism issues.

(2) The Committee for Assistance and the Japan-Russia Exchange Committee for Youth

Deputy Foreign Minister Takano stated that Japan was carrying out consideration with a view toward abolishing the Committee for Assistance and that he intended to give thorough consultation on the handling of assistance projects in the future. In response, Deputy Foreign Minister Losyukov stated that although he understood Japan's position, he hoped that technical assistance would be continued. Concerning youth exchange projects, Deputy Foreign Minister Losyukov stated that youth exchange is viewed with great importance by Russia as an important and effective sector in Japan-Russia relations, and that he hoped to discuss how projects could be carried out in the future.

5. International situation

(1) Situation on the Korean Peninsula

Deputy Foreign Minister Takano stated that Japan is sincerely engaged in the negotiations on the normalization of relations between Japan and North Korea and that Japan wants to resolve humanitarian issues, such as the abduction cases, and issues related to national security in order to create peace and stability in Northeast Asia. As such, he expressed his hope that Russia would convey to the North Korean side Japan's hope for it to take a positive approach toward resolving the various issues pointed out by Japan. In response to this, Deputy Foreign Minister Losyukov stated that he would endeavor to convey the requests and concerns of the Japan side.

(2) In addition, the situation involving India and Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Middle East peace were discussed.

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