Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova’s answer to a media question about Russian-Japanese consultations over prospects for joint economic activities on the South Kurils

Question: At what stage is the issue of Russian-Japanese cooperation regarding joint economic activities on the South Kuril Islands?

Maria Zakharova: Under an agreement reached during the official visit to Japan by Russian President Vladimir Putin in December 2016, the first round of Russian-Japanese consultations at a deputy foreign minister level on establishing joint economic activities on the South Kurils will be held in Tokyo on March 18.

Intensive preparations for this event are being carried out by the Russian Foreign Ministry in cooperation with the federal agencies concerned and the Administration of the Sakhalin Region. A package of proposals is being put together, which cover a wide range of avenues that are important for the socio-economic development of the South Kurils, and would promote the joint implementation of large-scale projects in various practical fields. Naturally, it is our view that such projects can be implemented only on those terms that do not contradict the Russian legislation. We will also be ready to consider Japanese proposals.