![]() ![]() ![]() |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() Wednesday, November 11, 1998 Published at 19:26 GMT ![]() ![]() World: Europe ![]() Obuchi seeks 'new chapter' in Russia relations ![]() Mr Obuchi was met by a full Russian honour guard at Moscow airport ![]() The Japanese Prime Minister, Keizo Obuchi, has begun the first official visit to Russia by a Japanese head of government for 25 years. Speaking in Moscow, Mr Obuchi said he wanted to open "a new chapter" in relations between Russia and Japan. He said he hoped Moscow would give a favourable response to Japanese claims over a group of islands to the north of Japan which the Soviet Union seized at the end of the Second World War.
Trade and investment also remains blocked over the issue. Nationalist pressure Russia's desperate need for economic aid and cooperation has led to a thaw in relations between the two countries and both sides are now thought to be open to compromise. That would help President Yeltsin, who is under intense pressure from nationalists and Communists not to concede anything.
Mr Obuchi will cover both in talks on Thursday with President Yeltsin and the following day with Prime Minister Primakov - although with Mr Yeltsin's recent political and health difficulties many observers believe that the real business will be done at the latter meeting. Before his departure Mr Obuchi said Japan wanted to enter a "period of all-round co-operation" with Russia New relationship "I will make every effort, since this is a good opportunity, to build a stable relationship between the two countries towards the 21st century," he said. Last November, President Yeltsin and the then Japanese Prime Minister, Ryutaro Hashimoto, agreed to try to sign a treaty by 2000. Mr Yeltsin is expected to reply to a proposed Japanese resolution that Tokyo declare sovereignty over the islands but allows Russia to continue to administer them temporarily. Russian officials have put a counter proposal on the table, but further details have been kept secret. ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]()
![]()
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |