Russian
President-elect Vladimir Putin is unlikely to make a major concession on the
long-standing territorial dispute with Japan, observers said.
Putin told the foreign media before his election victory Sunday that he
was ready to seek a solution to the territorial row, according to the ITAR-Tass
news agency.
In emphasising the importance of the two countries reaching a
compromise, Putin was quoted as saying, "We would like to [resolve the
territorial dispute] in a way that would be acceptable to both sides."
However, Valeri Kistanov, head of the Center for Japanese Studies at
the Russian Academy of Sciences' Institute of Oriental Studies, said it was
widely regarded in Russia that Putin had not indicated he would adopt a new
approach on the issue.
Putin believes discussions on the territorial dispute should not focus
on all four islands off Hokkaido, but instead should centre on two of
them--Habomai and Shikotan--as stipulated in the 1956 Japan-Soviet Joint
Declaration.
During his meeting with the foreign media, the president-elect only
confirmed he would be ready to continue negotiations with Japan, Kistanov said.
The declaration, which stipulates the return of the two islands to
Japan after the two countries conclude a peace treaty, has been called valid by
Putin.
However, this does not mean he would take a more conciliatory approach
on the territorial dispute than outgoing President Dmitry Medvedev, who visited
Kunashiri Island in November 2010 as the first Russian leader to make such a
visit since the former Soviet Union occupied the islands in 1945.
Medvedev also said the four islands became Russian territory as the
result of World War II.
However, Putin is willing to expand relations with Japan, particularly
in the economic field, observers said.
After last year's March 11 earthquake and tsunami triggered the crisis
at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, Putin said Russia was ready to
increase liquefied natural gas exports to Japan because the nuclear disaster
would force it to rely more on thermal power generation.
By increasing energy supplies to Japan, Putin hopes to influence the
Japanese government to become more committed to helping develop Russia's Far
East and Siberia.
As president, Putin will host a summit meeting of the Asia-Pacific
Economic Cooperation forum in Vladivostok in September, in which he reportedly
will aim to strengthen economic ties with Japan while promoting a diplomatic
strategy focusing on the region.
Noda, Putin may meet in May
Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda may hold his first meeting with Putin in
mid-May in Chicago on the sidelines of a Group of Eight summit, according to
government officials.
The government has begun talks to arrange a meeting between the two
leaders, in which Noda will press Putin to accelerate discussions on the
northern territorial issue, the officials said Monday.
During his previous eight-year stint as president, Putin discussed the
dispute in 2001 with then Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori.
As part of its efforts to develop a favorable environment for
negotiations, the government will offer to cooperate in such areas as security,
development of Russia's Far East and Siberia, and the modernization of the
country's economy, the officials said.
Kenichi Ogata
The Yomiuri Shimbun
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