In this case, the norms of international law are on our side. The question is purely political in nature. With all my sympathy for the Japanese people, Japanese history and culture, issues of a political nature doesn’t make me optimistic. Japan, after more than 60 years since the end of World War II, is still in the military-political and, especially, in terms of the defense depends from the United States of America. Meanwhile the United States was the main cause of all territorial disputes ‘Land of the Rising Sun.’

In the beginning of the year, many news agencies, citing an article in a Japanese newspaper Japan Times reported that in 1992 Russia secretly proposed return to Japan two of the four islands (Habomai and Shikotan) prior to the conclusion of a peace treaty, and then continue to solve the issue of sovereignty on Kunashir and Iturup. The article refers to an interview with Mr. Kadzihiko Togo, who led the Japanese delegation at the negotiations on the four islands to the end of 1991. At the same time  it stipulates that, Mr. Togo didn’t attended the negotiations held between Japanese Foreign Minister Michio Watanabe and his Russian counterpart, Andrei Kozyrev, and learned about it from a certain diplomatic document.

According to Mr. Togo, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation A. Kozyrev offered to return control of the Habomai Islands and Shikotan Island to Japan before Tokyo and Moscow will discuss a schedule and procedure for their transfer, and then negotiate what are the ‘best ways tomanage Kunashir and Iturup ‘.  Mr. Togo believes that it was a step of “a major concession on the part of Moscow” and was caused by “a decrease in its political influence”, and that Russia attached “great importance of relations with such a powerful economic power like Japan.” But Japan then rejected this proposal because it “did not guarantee the return of all four islands.

Leak of  “secret” information at the beginning of the year, was not accidental.  In Japan, the authorities have returned to the Liberal Democratic Party, and the new premier Shinzo Abe promissed in the shortest possible time to solve the problem of the Kuril Islands. Japan apparently realised the futility of their attempts to return all four islands and jumped at a new proposal to divide the island in half. In that case, Russia would remain only to Iturup and Kunashir northern part.

Even if the proposal of A. Kozyrev really exist, it is quite easily to explain. Enough to remember in what condition was Russia in 1992. Economic chaos, the decline in production, ‘predatory privatization’, banditry and political instability. ‘Upper Volta with missiles’ – said of Russia at that time, Margaret Thatcher. Yeltsin’s government desperately sought support from Western countries and tearfully begged loans to support the economy that was falling apart.  Foreign Minister Andrei Kozyrev these years was far from the best qualities of the Russian diplomat. If at that time the Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko was known in the West as ‘Mr. No’, so Kozyrev will suit the nickname “Mister Yes” for his constant concessions to Western countries. Perhaps Japan at the time, had a chance to grasp such proposal, but as we know has refused of it.

Now the situation is completely different. Modern Russia is not Russia of early 90-ies, Putin is not Yeltsin, and Lavrov is not Kozyrev. Russia confidently feels in the Asia-Pacific region, and the recent APEC Summit in Vladivostok is prove it. Russia is not going just to give up their territories, as evident from Dmitry Medvedev’s visit to Kunashir. Yes, the socio-economic situation in the Far East is still not entirely satisfactory, But the turn toward the development of the region began. Japanese investment in the economy of Russia, Of course, would have been desirable, but they are not already vital for the country. Investment activity in the region is expressed by China, Korea and other Asian countries. So, more than 40 Korean firms now operate on the Kuril Islands, investing in infrastructure and processing industry. Chinese companies are also not averse to participate in the development of the Kuril Islands. In such circumstances, political and social circles of Russia argue about necessity to give anything to Japan? Russia owns the islands legally backed by decisions of the Yalta, Potsdam and San Francisco Conference. Declaration of 1956, according to which the Soviet Union was ready to hand over Habomai and Shikotan to Japan as a gesture of good will, after the peace agreement.

Recently, I, as head of the Asia-Pacific international relations StudyCenter had to meet with Japanese delegations and officials of different levels. At these meetings, the Japanese colleagues are increasingly interested in two main issues: whether Putin could give half of the Islands by his strong-willed decision and how will Russian society react to this. The Japanese referred to the decision of the border problems with China, in particular Large Ussuriisk island. Like, nothing terrible has happened, the island was divided, and everybody is happy. We had to explain to Japanese colleagues that the Russian-Chinese border delimitation cannot be compared with territorial disputes with Japan. This is a totally different situation. And the main difference is that the distinction with China was based on the international conventions for the borders of the rivers. We were ready to bring the border in accordance with the rules of international law since the Soviet time. In 2004, the long lines of work was completed and a contract has been concluded. With regard to the large Ussuriisky island, China at one time claimed the whole island, but in the end was taken mutually beneficial solution.

In this case, the norms of international law are on our side. The question is purely political in nature. With all my sympathy for the Japanese people, Japanese history and culture, issues of a political nature doesn’t make me optimistic. Japan, after more than 60 years since the end of World War II, is still in the military-political and, especially, in terms of the defense depends from the United States of America. Meanwhile the United States was the main cause of all territorial disputes ‘Land of the Rising Sun.’ At the initiative of Americans Kuril Islands were ceded to the Soviet Union, the U.S. decision Dokdo Island was transferred to Japan, not Korea, and the Senkaku Islands in Japan, not Taiwan. This is a continuation of the old Anglo-Saxon policy of “divide and conquer”. Having a large number of unresolved territorial issues to the United States easier to keep on a leash of their allies.

Meanwhile, World War II and the cold war left in history. In the new globalized world much more important economic and cultural cooperation between the countries, rather than fruitless attempts to change the postwar status quo.