(Provisional translation)

Joint Press Statement by Japan and the Russian Federation on the Results of the Japan-Russian Consultations on Counter-Terrorism

The Second Japan-Russian Consultations on Counter-Terrorism were held in Moscow on June 23 and 24, with Ambassador in Charge of International Counter-Terrorism Takahiko Horimura as Head of the Japanese Delegation and Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Anatoly Safonov as Head of the Russian Federation Delegation.

In the consultations, issues in the implementation of various items of the Japan-Russia Action Plan, adopted at a summit meeting on the occasion of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's official visit to Russia in January 2003, and a joint statement on the fight against international terrorism signed by the foreign ministers of the two countries in Tokyo in 2002 were discussed.

An exchange of views took place on the situation relating to terrorism in Central Asia, Southeast Asia, and other regions of the world. The Russian side explained the process of normalization of the situation in the Republic of Chechnya. The problem of the threat of the possible use of weapons of mass destruction by terrorists was also taken up.

There was a mutually beneficial exchange of opinions in the consultations on international and regional aspects of the terrorist problem. The two sides shared the view that the threat posed by such international terrorist organizations as Al-Qaeda continued to be serious. In this connection, the need for the international community, under the leading role of the United Nations, to further consolidate its efforts for the prevention of international terrorism and in the fight against international terrorism was emphasized.

The two sides explained the counter-terrorism measures that were being taken in their respective countries. The representatives of Japan and Russia affirmed their intention to strengthen counter-terrorism measures at the bilateral level and also in the framework of such multilateral organizations and forums as the United Nations, G8, APEC, and ARF.

The two sides affirmed the importance of improving counter-terrorism capabilities in developing countries. In this connection, the two sides shared the view on the importance of cooperation through the Counter-Terrorism Action Group, the establishment of which was decided at the G8 Evian Summit.

Also, the two sides shared the view on the importance of Japan-Russia cooperation in narcotics control on the border between Tajikistan and Afghanistan.

It was decided that the next consultations would take place in Japan. Furthermore, the two sides agreed that during the interval between the consultations, contacts should take place at the working level if necessary.