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Russia, Japan move to end WWII differences
November 2, 2013, 8:22 am

(L-R) Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera attend the first Japan-Russia "two-plus-two" meeting in Tokyo [Xinhua]

(L-R) Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera attend the first Japan-Russia “two-plus-two” meeting in Tokyo [Xinhua]

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told his Japanese counterpart in Tokyo Saturday that both countries should work together to resolve territorial disputes and find common ground to deal with regional threats such as instability on the Korean Peninsula.

Lavrov arrived in Japan on Friday with Russian defence officials for the “two-plus-two” meetings  to improve relations still frayed since the end of World War II, and resolve sovereignty issues regarding a series of islands north of Japan’s Hokkaido.

Japan and Russia have since 1945 disputed ownership of the islands which Moscow calls the South Kurils. The issue has been a 58-year stumbling block preventing the two nations from signing a peace treaty.

In recent months, Russia and Japan have stepped up high-level talks between the two sides to find a resolution.

During their meeting in Moscow in late April, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to resume negotiations on a peace treaty.

Abe also met Putin on the sidelines of the G8 Summit on June 17-18 to discuss ties.

“Today, Minister Lavrov and I agreed that our two nations shall hold vice-ministerial level talks in either late January or early February,” Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said at a joint press conference after their meeting.

The two ministers also explored ways to increase defence exchanges, develop common anti-terrorism and anti-piracy strategies, as well as cooperation in areas such as the economy, security – including cyber-security – and people-to-people exchanges.

“The Russia-Japan relationship in recent times has enjoyed a positive atmosphere, allowing us to resume discussions on [the peace treaty],” Lavrov told reporters.

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, who accompanied Lavrov on his visit to Tokyo, said that he would raise the issue of the Japan-US missile defence system, which Moscow says is a source of tension in the Asia-Pacific region.

Japan and Russia will resume talks in Moscow next spring.

Source: Agencies