150! in English!

[АНАТОЛИЙ ВАДИМОВИЧ СОЛНЦЕВ]

150th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between Japan and Russia



  In a summit meeting ..... on June 9, 2004, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation decided that both countries would each host commemorative events in 2005, as it marks a historically important and memorable year for Japan-Russia relations.

    Commemorative events are expected to deepen further the mutual understanding and exchanges between the peoples of Japan and Russia, thereby enhancing understanding of the significance of Japan-Russia relations and leading to the creation of Japan-Russia relations that best match the new era of the 21st century.

[АНАТОЛИЙ ВАДИМОВИЧ СОЛНЦЕВ]

If you like Russia and have a feeling that something is strange between two countries, please come here get inside and stay with us.
If you like Japan and want to prove yourselve and everybody that Japan is a small www I mean Wonderful World of W's (questions that start from W like WHY, WHEN, WHERE, WHAT ELSE  etc.) Feel free and comfortable! Better to be WITH than WITHOUT. Lets be WITHIN!

[АНАТОЛИЙ ВАДИМОВИЧ СОЛНЦЕВ]

I would like to ask you here about special role of OTHER english-speaking parties: Do we really need together with Japan some special influenced english-speaking country as interpreter? I do not mean those countries which have direct borders with us:Japan and Russia.

[АНАТОЛИЙ ВАДИМОВИЧ СОЛНЦЕВ]

Good Luck with our help

[АНАТОЛИЙ ВАДИМОВИЧ СОЛНЦЕВ]

Russia takes Japan off diplomatic priority list

  MOSCOW (Kyodo) Russia's presidential office has removed Japan from its priority list of Asian countries, sources familiar with the issue said Thursday.
The snub apparently stems from the stalemate in the bilateral negotiations over the disputed islands off Hokkaido, and slack Japanese investment in Russia, they said.

Japan had been on Russia's diplomatic priority list along with China, India and Indonesia, but was recently downgraded to its secondary group, the sources said.

Russia's Office of the President divides Asian countries into the two categories to map out foreign policy. The listing is primarily based on Russia's economic interests in the region.

Experts on Japanese-Russian relations said the failure to arrange Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Japan in April is connected with the reduction in diplomatic status.

They said the downgrading also reflects Russia's plans to build an oil pipeline.

Russia recently said it intends to construct a branch line to China first instead of to the Pacific coast as sought by Japan.

Diplomatic sources said the presidential office is dissatisfied with Japan's adamant stance on the long-standing territorial dispute concerning the four Russian-administered islands off Hokkaido.

Putin has presented a compromise plan to return two of the four islands — Shikotan and the Habomai islets — in line with the 1956 Japanese-Soviet joint declaration. The other two isles are Etorofu and Kunashiri.

But Japan is demanding the return of all four of the islands, which were seized by Soviet troops in the closing days of World War II.

The diplomatic sources said there have been differences between the presidential office and Russia's Foreign Ministry in compiling policy toward Japan because the presidential office has fewer Japan experts.

Putin sees the need to attract investment from Japan, but is also concerned that concessions on the territorial issue may weaken his footing in the government, they said.

The Japan Times: May 13, 2005
(C) All rights reserved