Japan PM to visit Russia for Putin talks
Announcement comes as ministers hold security meeting in Tokyo
TOKYO — Japanese Prime States anti-missile system Minister Shinzo Abe will visit aimed at the Democratic People’s Russia in late April for a summit Republic of Korea, saying with President Vladimir it poses “serious risks” to the Putin, Foreign Minister Fumio region. Kishida said on Monday. The United States this
Abe has pledged to resolve a month began installing the decades-old territorial dispute THAAD anti-missile system in with Russia over a string of the Republic of Korea that it western Pacific islands, which says is for purely defensive purposes, came under Russia’s control at but Beijing and Moscow the end of World War II, in the have criticized the move. hope of building better ties. “We drew attention to the
The feud has precluded a serious risks posed by the formal peace treaty between deployment of elements of the the two countries. American global anti-missile
The announcement of Abe’s system in the Asia-Pacific visit came as senior Japanese region,” Foreign Minister Sergei officials met with their Russian Lavrov told a press conference, counterparts in Tokyo for saying Moscow raised talks. the issue in the talks.
During the wide-ranging “If this is meant to counter discussion, Russia criticized threats coming from North the deployment of a United Korea, then the deployment of this system and accumulating armaments in the region is a disproportionate reply,” he added, apparently referring to THAAD.
However, the main focus of the discussions was on the disputed islands and both sides expressed hope that the issue could be resolved.
Joint efforts in fighting terrorism and drug trafficking were also on the agenda.
Japan and Russia last held “two-plus-two” talks in November 2013. Meetings were shelved due to the crisis in Ukraine, as Japan joined sanctions against Moscow.
But the countries see more room for agreement on joint development of fisheries, tourism and other areas.
Kishida said he intended to work in a “speedy manner” to move closer toward reaching a peace treaty, especially making progress on joint economic development.
Lavrov agreed, saying at the outset of the talks that “I believe this joint development will become an important step to create an appropriate environment for resolving a peace treaty.”
The meeting took place as Abe’s approval rating fell sharply, an opinion poll showed on Monday, in the wake of recent scandals.
Abe took power in December 2012 on the back of widespread frustration with the previous administration’s handling of the 2011 nuclear disaster and perceived mismanagement of ties with key ally the US.
Forweekshehasbeenforced to deny connections with a nationalistic school operator whosepurchaseofstatelandto build a primary school at a huge discount has drawn allegations of shady dealings.
Abe has said he had no role in the transaction and has vowed to resign if any connection is found.
But new twists to the scandal, which has also engulfed his defense minister, keep emerging, ensuring it remains on newspaper front pages.
The latest survey by the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper shows approval for Abe’s cabinet has dropped by 10 percentage points to 56 percent.