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Japan Won't Share Islands
Japanese government press secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki stated that “the Japanese government did not advance any proposals of that type and is not considering them” in response to reports in the media that the possibility of dividing possession of the Southern Kurile Islands was discussed during Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's visit to Japan in November of last year, the Associated Press reports. He added that mention of dividing the islands by the Russian side was simply an example of one possible resolution of the problem.
Lavrov sated last month that the first round of a strategic dialog with Japan could begin early this year, and commented that, while he respected the Japanese' right to express their opinions, contradictory statements about sharing the islands would not help Japan and Russia reach a peace settlement.
Lavrov was speaking immediately after Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso expressed support for the idea of dividing the islands in the country's parliament. Specifically, he proposed drawing the boundary through the second of the four islands. Several days later, he stated that the idea was not being seriously considered by the Japanese government.
Aso's statement was met with a furious reaction in the Japanese press, which held that he was speaking against the interests of the country. The dispute over the Kurile Islands, the “Northern Territories,” as they are referred to in Japan, has gone on for more than 60 years. Soviet forces occupied the islands in 1945 in the last days of World War Two.
The issue has prevented the countries from reaching a peace treaty – formally, they are still at war. Japan is demanding the return of all four of the Southern Kurile Islands. Russia is proposing to return two of the islands after the conclusion of a peace treaty.
www.kommersant.com
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