Negotiating with Russia
(From The Japan Times June 23 issue)

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda held his first meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 18 in Los Cabos, Mexico, prior to the Group of 20 summit, and they agreed to “reactivate” talks on the long-standing territorial dispute over the Etorofu, Kunashiri and Shikotan islands, and the Habomai islet group off Hokkaido. Mr. Putin said that he was basically ready to start such talks. While a quick breakthrough cannot be expected, it is important — as Mr. Noda has acknowledged — that the talks proceed on the basis of a series of bilateral accords and documents, as well as the principle of law and justice.

Since the Democratic Party of Japan assumed power in September 2009, the Japanese government has displayed a lack of dexterity and astuteness in its dealings with Russia. In November 2010, Japan failed to stop then Russian President Dmitry Medvedev from becoming the first Russian leader to set foot on the Japan-claimed Northern Territories when he visited Kunashiri Island. No DPJ prime ministers have visited Russia, either.

Mr. Noda should make efforts to build a personal and trustful relationship with Mr. Putin. More importantly, Japan must develop an effective strategy to deepen Japan-Russian relations that includes the resolution of the territorial dispute, an expansion of bilateral economic cooperation, and progress in security dialogue with Russia over Northeast Asia and East Asia.

In the meeting, Mr. Noda and Mr. Putin also agreed to cooperate on the construction of a liquefied natural gas plant in Vladivostok, and on the Sakhalin-3 project to develop oil and natural gas off Sakhalin Island. Japan needs to consider how to link such economic cooperation with progress on the territorial issue.

Mr. Putin apparently wants to solve the territorial issue by handing over Shikotan Island and the Habomai islet group to Japan on the basis of the 1956 Japan-Russia joint declaration. The Japanese government, which is demanding the return of all four islands, must adopt a unified and effective approach to deal with the Russian position.

日本語の抄訳はウィークリ6月30日号のP18に掲載されています。