Wednesday, February 18, 2009

The Prime Minister Visits Sakhalin

Prime Minister Taro Aso visited Sakhalin upon the invitation to participate in the ceremony for the opening of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant. The plant was constructed under Sakhalin-2, a project to develop oil and natural gas off the coast of Sakhalin in which Japanese companies take part.

Immediately after his arrival, Prime Minister Aso held talks with Mr. Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev, President of the Russian Federation. With President Medvedev expressing his delight at Prime Minister Aso's participation in the ceremony, overall the meeting took place in a very good atmosphere.

At the meeting, the leaders discussed matters such as the Northern Territories issue and cooperation in the Far East of Russia and Eastern Siberia. Prime Minister Aso stated that President Medvedev's concrete instructions on the territorial issue, given to the officials concerned after the Japan-Russia Summit Meeting of last November, reflect the President's firm will to resolve the issue, and as such he is delighted. The Prime Minister also expressed his intention to aim for the final settlement of the attribution issue with a "new, creative, and unconventional approach" -- an approach that the President set out in instructions -- in line with the agreements and documents made thus far.

To this, President Medvedev said that he is prepared to continue work to reach a resolution of the issue acceptable to both sides, and that the issue, just like other issues in the world, is resolvable.

Based on the abovementioned understanding, the leaders agreed to give additional instructions to the officials concerned to accelerate concrete work, so that the final settlement of the attribution issue can be made within their generation.

The leaders also agreed that Mr. Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, Prime Minister of Russia, will visit Japan in May.

After the meeting, Prime Minister Aso commented on the Northern Territories issue, saying, "We agreed to accelerate concrete work, so that the issue can be resolved within our generation." On the return of the four islands, the Prime Minister said, "Russia continuing to insist on the return of the two islands and Japan demanding the return of the four islands would see no progress for either side. The issue affects all the other issues between Japan and Russia. There is no way but to make a political decision."

Afterwards, the Prime Minister attended the LNG plant opening ceremony, together with President Medvedev. Prime Minister Aso said, "A period of history has begun in which Russia becomes Japan's constructive partner in the Asia-Pacific region."

After the ceremony, Prime Minister Aso observed Grand Aniva, an LNG carrier ship. 　

Related Link

• Japan-Russia Summit Meeting (in Sakhalin) (Overview) (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)