Photostream : Indonesian Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro meets Japanese Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa

Indonesian Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro (R), accompanied by his Japanese counterpart Toshimi Kitazawa (L), reviews the honor guard prior to their talks at the Defense Ministry in Tokyo on January 14, 2011. AFP PHOTO / Yoshikazu TSUNO (Photo credit should read YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP/Getty Images)

Indonesian Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro (R) reviews the honor guard at the Defense Ministry in Tokyo on January 14, 2011. Purunomo held talks with his Japanese counterpart Toshimi Kitazawa. (Photo by YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP/Getty Images)

Indonesian Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro (R) shakes hands with his Japanese counterpart Toshimi Kitazawa (L) prior to their talks at the Defense Ministry in Tokyo on January 14, 2011. (Photo by YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP/Getty Images)

Dmitry Medvedev met with Naoto Kan on the sidelines of the APEC Summit

Russian - Japanese Talks

November 13, 2010 (KATAKAMI / KREMLIN.RU) --- The leaders of Russia and Japan stated their commitment to developing a dialogue based on trust between the two countries. 

One of the main subjects under discussion was the Kuril Islands." to visit any Russian region, including the Far East, and the Japanese Prime Minister accepted the invitation.


* * *


PRIME MINISTER OF JAPAN NAOTO KAN (retranslated): Mr President, as you pointed out, the Asia-Pacific region is the centre of global economic development. The region has the highest economic growth rate in the world.

I would like to deepen the friendly relations based on partnership and trust between Japan and Russia and will make every effort to achieve this aim. This is our second meeting and I hope that today’s talks will mark the beginning of a full-scale dialogue between us based on mutual trust.

PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA DMITRY MEDVEDEV : Mr Prime Minister, first of all, I would like to thank you once again for the excellent organisation of the APEC Summit. This is indeed our second meeting and I hope that during these talks and in the course of other contacts we will lay the foundation for a dialogue based on trust between our states. (*)

Japan to return its recalled ambassador to Moscow Sunday

Japanese Ambassador to Russia Masaharu Kono

November 07, 2010 (KATAKAMI/ RIA NOVOSTI) --- Japan's ambassador to Russia Masaharu Kono, recalled amid the recent diplomatic spat over the disputed Kuril Islands, will return to Moscow by Sunday noon, the Kyodo news agency said.

On Monday, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev became the first Russian president to visit one of the four disputed Kuril Islands, called the Northern Territories by Japan. The move triggered an angry response from Tokyo, which called the visit "regrettable" and temporarily recalled its ambassador to Russia for consultations.

The Japanese government has later taken a decision to refrain from further actions of protest.
Both Moscow and Tokyo have laid claim to the Kuril Islands since they were occupied by the Soviet Union at the end of World War II. The dispute over the islands has prevented Russia and Japan from signing a peace treaty to formally end World War II hostilities.

MOSCOW, November 7 (RIA Novosti)

Russian President thanks Japan PM for invitation to APEC summit

File photo : Prime Minister of Japan Naoto Kan ( left) with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev (June 26, 2010)

November 04, 2010 (KATAKAMI / KREMLIN.RU) --- President Dmitry Medvedev sent a response message to Prime Minister of Japan Naoto Kan thanking him for the invitation to take part in the 18^th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Yokohama on November 13–14, 2010.

The Russian President’s message reads, in part:

“I fully share the belief in APEC’s importance in expanding multilateral political and economic cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region as part of the effort to find effective responses to modern challenges.

I intend to actively participate in discussions on the main theme of Japan’s presidency, Change and Action. I hope that the forum will prompt its participants to adopt a set of joint measures to overcome the effects of the global financial crisis and to develop an optimal model of APEC region’s development in the post-crisis period with an emphasis on economic and social security.

I am confident that the summit will make a tangible contribution to sustainable growth of the economies participating in the forum.”


(MS)

Moscow not to recall ambassador to Tokyo over Kurils row, says Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov

November 02, 2010 (KATAKAMI / RIA NOVOSTI) --- Russia will not recall its ambassador to Japan following a diplomatic row over the disputed Kuril Islands, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday.

The dispute over four of the islands, which both countries have laid claim to since they were occupied by the Soviet Union at the end of World War II, was sparked when Russian President Dmitry Medvedev visited Kunashir Island on Monday.

Earlier on Tuesday, Japan announced it was temporarily recalling its ambassador to Russia, Masaharu Kono.

Lavrov said Japan's move was its own domestic affair.

"On the whole, we are puzzled by the continuing escalation of emotions from the Japanese side," the minister said, adding that Medvedev was planning to visit another Kuril Islands.

Prior to Medvedev's visit, Japan said the arrival of the Russian leader could complicate bilateral relations, but Russia's Foreign Ministry rejected the comments saying Medvedev "defines the routes of trips across his country on his own."

The visit was the first trip by a head of state of Russia or the former Soviet Union to the South Kuril Islands.

Tokyo's continued claim over four South Kuril Islands (Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan, and Habomai) to the northeast of Japan has so far prevented Russia and Japan from signing a formal peace treaty to end World War II hostilities.


OSLO, November 2 (RIA Novosti)

Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan offers condolences over Indonesian disasters

Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan extended deep condolences over consecutive natural disasters which had hit Indonesia in the past few weeks, thus causing a big number of casualties on the people. (Photo by JIJI PRESS/AFP/Getty Images)

October 29, 2010 Jakarta (KATAKAMI / ANTARA News) - Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan extended deep condolences over consecutive natural disasters which had hit Indonesia in the past few weeks, thus causing a big number of casualties on the people.

Indonesia, this month, was already hit by three devastating disasters of Wasior flash flood in West Papua, followed by an earthquake-triggered tsunami in Mentawai district, West Sumatra, then volcanic eruption in less than 24 hours in Central Java.

"I really feel sad when hearing many victims were killed and many of residents in the affected areas are in a state of difficulty resulting from quake happening on October 25, in Mentawai and eruption of Mount Merapi in Central Java which had been started on October 26, a release from the Japanese embassy made available to ANTARA said here on Thursday.

The Japanese Prime Minister also said his country was available to provide such maximal aid to the families of the disaster.

In addition, Australia was reported to provide up to $1 million of emergency assistance to help Indonesia in the wake of two devastating disasters, according to the Australian Embassy here in its wesite on Thursday.

Australia regretted the loss of life and damaged caused by the tsunami and earthquake in Mentawai and the volcanic eruption on Mount Merapi.

Australia`s Charge d`Affaires to Indonesia Paul Robilliard said that Australia stands ready to provide further assistance should Indonesia require additional support and is monitoring the situation closely.

"Australia is always keen to assist Indonesia in times of need. We are working with our Indonesian counterparts to quickly and precisely respond to these disasters," Robilliard said.

Australia`s initial support package will consist of funding to SurdAid for assessment, relief and recovery activities to the Mentawai Islands, the Indonesian community organisations Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah to help local communities recover following the eruption, and the Indonesian Red Cross for humanitarian assistance in the Mentawai Islands and Mount Merapi area.

On 26 October 2010 Indonesia reported that a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck the Mentawai Islands, shortly followed by a tsunami. On the next day, a volcanic eruption on Mount Merapi occurred near Yogyakarta. These disasters caused a number of deaths and injuries.

Photostream : Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Japan

India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh (2nd L) and his wife Gursharan Kaur meet Japan's Emperor Akihito (4th R) and Empress Michiko (2nd R) at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo October 25, 2010 in this handout photo released by the Imperial Household Agency of Japan. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday urged closer ties with Japan to bolster Asian economic growth, as Tokyo struggles to offset the risk of its growing dependence on giant rival China. (Getty Images / REUTERS/Imperial Household Agency of Japan/Handout )

India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh (L) and his wife Gursharan Kaur (R) meets Japan's Emperor Akihito (2nd L) and Empress Michiko at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo October 25, 2010 in this handout photo released by the Imperial Household Agency of Japan. Singh on Monday urged closer ties with Japan to bolster Asian economic growth, as Tokyo struggles to offset the risk of its growing dependence on giant rival China. (REUTERS/Imperial Household Agency of Japan/Handout/ Getty Images)

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh (L) shakes hands with Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan in Tokyo October 25, 2010. Singh on Monday urged closer ties with Japan to bolster Asian economic growth, as Tokyo struggles to offset the risk of its growing dependence on giant rival China. (Getty Images / REUTERS/Everett Kennedy Brown/Pool )

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh (R) talks with Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara at a Tokyo hotel on October 25, 2010. Singh is on a visit aimed at progressing towards a civilian nuclear deal and boosting trade ties. (Photo : YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP/Getty Images)

India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh (2nd L) toasts with the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren) Chairman Hiromasa Yonekura (2nd R) during a luncheon with Japanese business leaders in Tokyo October 25, 2010. (Getty Images)