Russia, Japan can address economic, humanitarian issues in Kuril Islands together, agreement yet to be reached - Putin
LIMA. Nov 21 (Interfax) - Large joint projects dealing with economic and humanitarian issues in the Kuril Islands could lay a foundation for the peace treaty between Russia and Japan, Russian President Vladimir Putin told a press conference after the APEC summit in Lima.
"What foundation could our agreement have? We could build confidence in each other. Expanded cooperation is a way to build confidence," Putin said.
This is why Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has proposed a program of wider business and economic relations, he said. "This implies the implementation of rather large projects both on the islands and between Russia and Japan in general," he said.
He said he discussed what could be done in the Kuril Islands at the latest meeting with Abe. "This is about dealing with economic and humanitarian issues, which, however, are too early to speak about," Putin said.
"There is no final agreement to the effect," the president said, adding that Moscow and Tokyo would continue contacts "at the level of foreign ministers."
"We have also agreed to focus on those matters if I pay a visit to Japan," Putin said.