The key facts
- Consultations between the Russian and Japanese foreign ministries took place on October 20 at Tokyo's initiative
- Moscow links normalization of relations with Japan's renunciation of anti-Russian policy
- According to Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara, Tokyo intends to maintain contacts with Russia without giving up its claims to the Southern Kuril Islands
Moscow's Conditions Following the Consultations
Russia is ready to return to normal relations with Japan if Tokyo in practice abandons its anti-Russian policy and begins to take Moscow's interests in the sphere of national security into account. This condition was stated by the Russian Foreign Ministry following a meeting of representatives of the foreign ministries of the two countries. 'It was emphasized that for the return of interstate relations to a normal track, a renunciation of activities directed against Russia, backed by real deeds, and taking into account Russian concerns in the sphere of national security are necessary,' the Russian ministry said in a statement.
Course of the Talks
The consultations took place on October 20 at the initiative of the Japanese side. Lyudmila Vorobyova, Director of the Third Asian Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, received Kimitake Nakamura, Director of the European Affairs Department of the Japanese Foreign Ministry. During the meeting, Moscow also set out its assessment of the current state of bilateral relations, emphasizing that, in the wording of the Russian ministry, the cause of their deterioration was the unfriendly policy of the Japanese leadership.
Tokyo's Position
Earlier, Chief Cabinet Secretary of Japan Minoru Kihara stated that the country intends to maintain contacts with Russia despite serious differences and the absence of a peace treaty. At the same time, as Life.ru notes, Tokyo does not intend to abandon its territorial claims to the southern part of the Kuril Islands.
