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What's up around the Prime Minister > November, 2005 |
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Japan-Russia Summit Meeting
Click photographs to enlarge
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi held a meeting with Mr. Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, the President of the Russian Federation. The meeting was followed by a joint press conference. At the start of the conference, Prime Minister Koizumi said, "Today, I would like to express my heartfelt welcome to President Putin on his visit to Japan in this milestone year of the 150th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Russia. Japan-Russia relations are steadily enhancing in a wide range of areas based on the Japan-Russia Action Plan adopted in 2003. Aiming to expand the cooperation based on this Action Plan, we have compiled and signed 12 documents. Concerning a peace treaty, we held a frank and serious discussion. We affirmed that it is our duty as leaders to continue, under the policy of concluding a peace treaty at the earliest date possible, serious discussions on the important issue of concluding a Japan-Russia peace treaty by resolving the issue of attribution of the Four Northern Islands. Relations between Japan and Russia are growing. We intend to make efforts to overcome our differences of opinion by further strengthening our cooperative relations." In response, President Putin said, "Russia and Japan established their relations 150 years ago, and this event has set the tone for this visit. I would like to emphasize that our negotiations have been constructive and substantial. Prime Minister Koizumi and I have discussed a wide range of bilateral issues based on the Russia-Japan Action Plan adopted in 2003, paying a great deal of attention to the peace treaty issue. Something that I would like to point out in regards to this is that we must seek to resolve this issue based on the partnership and mutual trust between Russia and Japan. At the same time, I realize that the issue is complex and there is no simple solution. We think it is important to explain our positions to each other. That is why we have expressed our intentions to continue dialogue on this sensitive issue. The development of Russia-Japan relations in all areas will be to the benefit of both countries."
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