Japan-Russia Foreign Ministers' Meeting (Summary)

On October 12, 2002, Japan-Russia Foreign Ministers' Meeting and a working lunch were held in Moscow between Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi and Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov. The following is a summary of the meeting.

1.Bilateral Relations

(1) Basic understanding of Japan-Russia relations

(a) Foreign Minister Ivanov made the following statements:

• Russia wants to continue its cooperation in three areas: cooperation in the international arena, cooperation in trade and economic relations, and cooperation over the issue of the conclusion of a peace treaty.
  
• The development of a creative partnership with Japan based on good-neighborliness and friendship is Russia's consistent strategy. From this perspective, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's visit to Russia is important.

(b) In response, Foreign Minister Kawaguchi made the following statements:

• Japan-Russia relations is complementary, and there is much potential for cooperation in the economic field and the international arena.
  
• Japan-Russia relations must be qualitatively developed to a new level. For this purpose, Japan-Russia relations must be normalized through the conclusion of a peace treaty

(2) Prime Minister Koizumi's visit to Russia and the "Japanese-Russian Action Plan"

(a) The two sides agreed on the following six points as the main content of an action plan to be formulated when Prime Minister Koizumi visits Russia:

(b) Relating to the discussions of the action plan, the cooperation in the international arena and on economic matters were took up. The following is an outline of these discussions.

(3) The issue of concluding a peace treaty

(a) The two sides agreed that both Japan and Russia recognize that the conclusion a peace treaty is an important issue in Japan-Russia relations and also agreed to continue peace treaty negotiations. They also agreed that the issue of concluding a peace treaty is an important pillar of the "Japanese-Russian Action Plan."

(b) Referring to her visit to Sapporo and Nemuro in August and meeting with former residents of the four Northern islands, Foreign Minister Kawaguchi made the following statements:

• I (Foreign Minister Kawaguchi) reaffirmed my determination that Japan and Russia must settle the Northern Territories issue, conclude a peace treaty, and thereby raise bilateral relations to a new level.
  
• On the occasion of Prime Minister Koizumi's visit to Russia, the two sides should make as much effort as possible to achieve progress on the issue of a peace treaty.

(c) In response, Foreign Minister Ivanov pointed out that the issue of the four islands was inherited from the past, and there was no obstacle to the development of bilateral relations other than the territorial issue.

(4) Assistance to Russia and residents of the four islands

(a) Foreign Minister Kawaguchi made the following statements:

• The Cooperation Committee will be abolished at the end of the current fiscal year. Japan would like to enter consultations with the Russian side as soon as possible regarding the expiration of the agreement on the establishment of the Cooperation Committee.
  
• Regarding the projects of the Japan Center, which have been highly evaluated by the Russian side, Japan would like to continue and develop these projects from the next fiscal year. Furthermore, Japan wants to make the Japan Center to contribute to the promotion of economic and cultural exchanges between Japan and Russia.
  
• Regarding assistance to the residents of the four northern islands after the abolition of the committee, Japan will only provide true humanitarian support, without implementing any projects for the construction of facilities.
  

(b) In response, Foreign Minister Ivanov stated that Japan has the authority to decide on the abolition of the committee and that Russia will accept the proposal for consultations.

(5) Assistance to Sakhalin

(a) Foreign Minister Kawaguchi made the following statements:

• Japan recognizes the importance of relations with the province of Sakhalin, which is our neighbor, and has been supporting its reform since 1993. As a consequence of the policy of abolishing the committee, however, it will be impossible to continue assistance to Sakhalin of the same amount and in the same form as before.
  
• (Pointing out the importance of the framework agreement concerning operations of Japanese fishing vessels in the waters around the four northern islands) This framework should be maintained.
  

(b) In response, Foreign Minister Ivanov made the following statements:

• The abolition of assistance to Sakhalin could raise difficult problems for the continuation of the framework agreement. However, the Russian Foreign Ministry intends to call on domestic parties concerned toward the continuation of the agreement.

(6) "Japan Year in Russia"

Foreign Minister Kawaguchi explained that, as agreed in summit talks between the leaders of Japan and Russia in Kananaskis in June, the "Japan Year in Russia" is scheduled to be held next year, and preparations are underway toward the success of the event. In response, Foreign Minister Ivanov said that he would like to consult properly with the Ministry of Culture of Russia.

2.International Situation

(1) Problems Concerning Iraq

(a) Foreign Minister Ivanov explained that Russia's position with regard to Iraq centers on the following three points:

• Russia calls on Iraq to comply with all the resolutions of the U.N. Security Council relating to the Iraq problem;
  
• Russia cannot permit the existence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq;
  
• Russia calls on Iraq to allow the U.N. inspection team to return to Iraq and conduct their activities as soon as possible.
  

(b) In response, Foreign Minister Kawaguchi stated that, in order to put the utmost pressure on Iraq, the international community must show a resolute attitude by passing another Security Council resolution to the effect that Iraq accepts inspections immediately, unconditionally, and unlimitedly and dispose its weapons of mass destruction.

(2) Middle East peace process

The two sides agreed that the international community should decide its response in unison and that the Quartet should jointly formulate a road map toward the establishment of a interim administration.

(3) North Korea

(a) Foreign Minister Kawaguchi explained Prime Minister Koizumi's visit to North Korea, the abduction issue and made the following statements:

• Japan is calling in particular for an investigation of the facts behind the reported deaths of abducted persons. I want to request Russia also to bring up this matter with North Korea whenever possible.

(b) In response, Foreign Minister Ivanov made the following statements:

• We welcome the results of Prime Minister Koizumi's visit to North Korea.
  
• Russia has built good relations with both North and South Korea and is prepared to offer assistance to the solution of Japan's various problems with North Korea.
  
• Russia supports a dialogue between Japan and North Korea.
  

(c) Foreign Minister Ivanov expressed hope for assistance from Japan to a plan to construct a Trans-Korean Railway and link it with the Trans-Siberian Railway. While acknowledging the economic significance of such a project, Foreign Minister Kawaguchi explained that in Japan's relations with North Korea Japan has not decided any kind of economic cooperation, which would come after the normalization of diplomatic relations.

Summary of Meetings

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