Japan will make Russia an idea after the launch of a fish processing plant on the Kuril island of Shikotan. The symbolic start of the enterprise on the eve was given by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Yoshihide Suga, Secretary General of the Government of Japan, reported on the upcoming Japanese side reaction to these events. According to RIA Novosti with reference to the official himself, Tokyo's position on the Kuril Islands has remained the same.

“In order to radically solve such problems, it is necessary to solve the problem of the northern territories. We will continue to persistently negotiate with Russia to solve the problem of the northern territories and sign a peace treaty, ”the agency quotes the Secretary General of the Japanese government.

It is noted that he evaded a direct answer to the question whether this would be a protest or a performance. As TASS clarifies, speaking of the upcoming actions of the Japanese side, Suga said that Tokyo "plans to give a proper answer."

The Japanese side is of the opinion that the opening of the plant will not prevent Putin and Abe from engaging in a frank dialogue. This was reported by TASS, citing a representative of the Japanese government.

“There are no changes in the position to conduct a frank dialogue between the leaders (Russia and Japan. - RT ) on the territorial issue,” the agency quotes the source. He clarified that, according to the Japanese side, the opening of the plant on Shikotan was aimed at "to an internal audience (Russia. - RT ) to show effective control over the islands."

Subsequently, it became known that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe outlined his position regarding the Shikotan plant in an interview with Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum (WEF). This was announced by Deputy Secretary General of the Government of Japan Kotaro Nogami. Details of the conversation between the two leaders on this issue are not specified.

Factory Launch

A symbolic start to the fish processing plant on the Kuril island of Shikotan was given on September 4. The plant was built instead of a similar enterprise, destroyed by an earthquake in 1994.

According to RIA Novosti, the president took part in the ceremony of launching the plant at the joint exposition of the Ministry for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic and the development institutions of the Far Eastern Federal District on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum.

As the agency clarifies, we are talking about a high-tech fishing complex that can process up to 1 thousand tons of fish per day. The constructed complex includes a seaport, shipping terminals, a mining and transport fleet, and processing facilities.

Commenting on the Japanese side’s new statement about the plant, candidate of political sciences, RISI expert Andrei Gubin noted that, by tradition, Tokyo has taken all the steps of Russia in the so-called “northern territories” painfully.

“So it was with military preparations, so it was with the visits of Russian officials. Now I’ve got what is called, under the distribution, and a peaceful fish factory. That is, the Japanese perceive any form of activity as some kind of attempt on their freedom of ownership, ”the expert said in an interview with RT.

In turn, Russia is accustomed to reacting to such actions with restraint, but quite firmly, Gubin notes.

“I would like to hope that Japan will nevertheless change its position to a more productive one. And, as a result, it will refrain from such attacks, ”the expert summed up.

  • Russian President Vladimir Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during a meeting at the WEF
  • RIA News
  • © Grigory Sysoev

“We will strive to conclude a peace treaty”

Recall that the South Kuril Islands Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan, Khabomai joined the USSR after the end of World War II by the decision of the Yalta Conference of 1945. In 1956, a joint declaration was concluded between Moscow and Tokyo, within the framework of which a phased development of relations and the conclusion of a peace treaty were assumed.

During the WEF plenary meeting on September 5, Putin and Abe reiterated their intentions to move towards a peace treaty.

“Next year marks the 75th anniversary of the end of the great war. 30 years have passed since the end of the Cold War. In 1956, our countries firmly promised each other to build relations on the principles of peacefulness and good neighborliness, not fighting each other anymore and not considering each other's enemies, ”said Shinzo Abe.

In turn, the Russian president announced his intention to conclude an agreement "no matter how difficult it was."

"As the prime minister said, we will move towards a full settlement of our relations, we will strive to conclude a peace treaty," Putin said.

At the same time, the Russian leader noted that this is not just about bilateral relations.

“There are military, defense issues, security issues, and here we must take into account the position of third countries and Japan’s obligations to third countries, including the United States,” the President of the Russian Federation noted.