ALEXANDER LOSYUKOV'S SPEECH AT THE RUSSIAN-JAPANESE FORUM "RUSSIAN-JAPANESE RELATIONS IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC REGION IN CONDITIONS OF GLOBALIZATION", ORGANIZED BY THE CENTER FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES (RUSSIA) AND THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH ADVANCEMENT (NIRA, JAPAN) (MAY 20, 2002)

Unofficial translation from Russian

Alexander Losyukov's Speech at the Russian-Japanese Forum "Russian-Japanese Relations in the Asia-Pacific Region in Conditions of Globalization", Organized by the Center for Strategic Studies (Russia) and the National Institute for Research Advancement (NIRA, Japan)

(May 20, 2002)

Esteemed Mr. Arima,

Esteemed Mr. Mezentsev,

Esteemed ladies and gentlemen,

First of all, let me express my sincere gratitude to the leadership of the Center for Strategic Studies and the Japanese National Institute for Research Advancement for the invitation to take part in this authoritative forum that brought together leading representatives of the intellectual elite from the two countries. Today's event, the second of the type, is taking place as part of the efforts to implement the agreement reached by Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Japanese Prime Minister to explain to the Russian and Japanese public the importance of the development of friendly relations between our states and to find a mutually acceptable solution to existing bilateral problems. I feel particularly happy to state that the first forum fully lived up to the expectations, becoming an effective arena for an intensive and interested discussion on the current state of and prospects for the development of Russian-Japanese relations, demonstrated the sincere desire of its participants to find, through an active intellectual search, a way of building a new paradigm of cooperation between the two countries in various areas that would match their role as major political players in the regional and international dimensions.

The current situation in the world is such that it has allowed both sides to make use of the potential for their mutually advantageous and multi-faceted cooperation that has always been there but little used. Russia and Japan are in the same system of coordinates on the world arena: in politics, it's the principles of democracy understood in a unified way; in the economy, it's market laws.

By their political philosophy and the direction of their national interests, our countries are not rivals, and their relations are not burdened by unsurmountable contradictions. On the contrary, Russia and Japan are united as never before, starting with their view of the modern world, which, in their shared opinion, should rest on a stronger UN central role, respect for diversity in the world, the settlement of conflicts by non-violent methods, and the fight against terrorism in all of its manifestations.

The similarity of the foreign policy perception of the changing world and the main problems facing humankind creates unique opportunities for a qualitative enhancement of the international element in our bilateral relations. A special place in these contacts is occupied by the Asia-Pacific region, which is vitally important for Russia and Japan and where, as the process of globalization gains momentum, the search is under way for a new political, economic and social model of society that will give the countries in the region sound prospects for prosperous and safe development in the 21st century.

I will not tell you a secret if I say that as a global phenomenon, globalization is extremely controversial in nature. On the other hand, by decisively removing political, economic and information barriers between various states, it offers broad opportunities for enhancing international economic cooperation, increasing the mobility of capital, invigorating scientific and technological progress, and accelerating information flows. The economic history of the Asia-Pacific region is very instructive in this respect: many countries in this part of the world have succeeded in making an effective use of economic and technological results of globalization and making a serious leap in their development.

At the same time, many view globalization, and quite rightly, as a threat with scores of 'underwater rocks', which may do serious damage to nations on the planet if treated in an unwise and reckless way. The main danger of globalization in our view is that it creates conditions under which problems that have previously been contained by the borders of individual states are now assuming a global scale and, like "infection", quickly spreading around the world. One of such transborder challenges to humankind, partly generated by globalization, is terrorism.

The horrible events in September of last year in New York vividly showed that terrorism had grown beyond a regional phenomenon to become a real global problem of the first magnitude. New York and Tokyo, Kashmir and Chechnya -- how similar the way of thinking and the modus operandi of these people are, how effectively they use many achievements of globalization, namely modern means of data transmission, the mobility of cash flows, to make and carry out their criminal designs. Only a decisive and, which is especially important, equally global counteraction by all states can stop terrorists. This also concerns the Asia-Pacific region where there are both existing and potential sources of terrorist threat.

Russia and Japan have strongly condemned the terrorist acts in New York and are taking an active part in the international anti-terrorist coalition. The general paradigm of bilateral interaction on the anti-terrorist track was formulated in the February 2, 2002 Joint Statement by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan On the Fight Against International Terrorism. For example, the document speaks of the importance of building an effective dialogue and cooperation on these issues among APR states, both in a bilateral and multilateral formats, including within the ASEAN Regional Forum and the APEC. Russia and Japan intend to jointly press for a speedy adoption of two fundamental international anti-terrorist documents: a Comprehensive convention on the struggle against international terrorism and an Iinternational convention on the fight against acts of nuclear terrorism. In addition, our countries have agreed to develop bilateral cooperation in order to prevent and respond to terrorist acts.

Ensuring stability and security in the Asia-Pacific region is another topical area of interaction between our countries in international affairs. Both Russia and Japan have a vital interest in increasing the predictability of the military-political situation in the region and the transparency of the defense policies of its states. These are the only conditions under which we can speak of sustainable economic development in the region and therefore of the strengthening of its positions with regard to other world economic centers.

In this field we have reached new frontiers of cooperation that would have been unheard of during the Cold War. I would particularly like to name the growing interaction between the military agencies of the two countries, and close coordination of foreign policy efforts within the framework of dialogue forums on security problems in the Asia-Pacific region and primarily in the ARF regions.

We have serious objectives for the future too. Apparently, more attention should be paid to the possibility and expediency of creating a multilateral structure to ensure regional security in the Asia-Pacific region that will involve most or even all countries in the area. We believe such a format of dialogue will make it possible to find solutions to a whole number of problems that have long been worrying the region, including those that generate missile defense plans. Attempts to develop and deploy such systems by a limited number of states within blocs may in our view only breed mistrust in the neighboring countries and provoke an arms race that distracts valuable economic and financial resources needed for the economic development of countries. For our part, we have put forth an idea of creating a regional missile defense system with the participation of Russia, China, the US and Japan, which will be open to other countries.

Lately countries in the region have been paying more and more attention to the task of ensuring energy security. Long-term sustainable and dynamic economic development in the region is possible only if there are stable and steady energy supplies. However, the current situation with energy supplies to the Asia-Pacific region is far from ideal, as there is an excessive dependence on the Middle East mineral fuel. The region is beginning to understand the need for serious measures to diversify energy imports. And Russia and Japan have good prospects for interaction in this field both at the bilateral level and through our participation in major international projects. There are broad opportunities for investment cooperation to develop oil and gas fields in Eastern Siberia and the Far East, and to supply energy carriers to Asian countries, which will require the creation of a proper transport infrastructure. The idea of building a regional system of strategic stocks of mineral fuel also needs to be studied most thoroughly.

Clearly, interaction between Russia and Japan in the modern world is impossible without a re-evaluation of bilateral relations. Now that global processes are gaining momentum and magnitude, emerging threats and problems can be solved only through close and constructive cooperation.

We believe we need to begin an active search for ways ensuring truly full-scale development of bilateral ties in accordance with the long-term national interests of both countries. There is simply no reasonable alternative to this.

In conclusion, I would like to express the hope that the work of our forum will be constructive and committed to the future. I cannot but note the importance and timeliness of our reference to such a topic as Russian-Japanese cultural cooperation. In my view, it has a great future and will undoubtedly play a considerable role in promoting trust and mutual understanding that are so necessary in the modern world.

Thank you.