Russia firm on disputed isles

By Vladimir Radyuhin

MOSCOW, MARCH 25. Russia and Japan have failed to make a breakthrough in resolving their territorial dispute, but agreed to intensify the talks.

Meeting the Japanese Prime Minister, Mr. Yoshiro Mori, in the Siberian city of Irkutsk on Sunday, the Russian President, Mr. Vladimir Putin, confirmed Moscow's willingness to return two disputed islands to Japan, but also indicated his opposition to handing over the other two islands claimed by Japan. The two countries are locked in a dispute over four small islands that the Soviet Union seized from Japan in World War II.

In Irkutsk, Russia for the first time agreed to confirm in writing that the 1956 Soviet-Japanese declaration, which called for the return of two islands, remains in effect. ``We verify that this 1956 declaration is a fundamental legal document establishing the departure point for peace treaty negotiations,'' the sides said in a joint statement signed at the end of the Irkutsk summit.

However, Mr. Putin dashed Tokyo's hopes that the return of the two islands - Shikotan and Habomai - would pave the way for talks on the other two sought by Japan - Etorofu and Kunashiri.

Addressing a joint press conference with Mr. Mori after the talks, the Russian leader said the 1956 declaration ``did not specify the terms on which the (two) islands were to be returned''. ``This is a matter for talks,'' Mr. Putin said, in a clear reference to the long-time Russian stand that the return of the two islands should put an end to the territorial dispute with Japan. Mr. Putin also resisted pressure from Mr. Mori to set a deadline for resolving the territorial dispute.

Russia's pledge to return two islands may be too small a gain for the embattled Mr. Mori to retain control of the ruling party and premiership in the coming months.

At the same time, reference to all the four islands claimed by Japan in the joint statement should sustain Tokyo's hope of having its way in the long run.

The Russian and Japanese leaders ``agreed to speed up further talks aimed at concluding a peace treaty by resolving the question of sovereignty over the islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri, Shikotan and Habomai.''

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : International
Previous : Foot-and-mouth: Blair in command of crisis control
Next     : Arab summit to focus on Iraq sanctions