Director of the Information and Press Department of the MFA, Maria Zakharova, is live with our studio.
- Maria Vladimirovna. Nevertheless, I'd like to begin with the Russian Far East. There was news with a reference to diplomatic sources. It involved Russian-Japanese relations with respect to the islands. Could you tell us what are the diplomatic sources, and how accurate is the information, and what is our country's position?
Maria Zakharova, Director of the Information and Press Department of the MFA:
- I was surprised because there were lots of questions after the Japanese Kyodo news agency, if I'm not mistaken, as you rightfully said, with a reference to unidentified diplomatic sources, published the information that Russia doesn't hold negotiations with Japan on the transfer of the islands any longer. And that's obvious because Russia hasn't held any negotiations with Japan on the transfer of the islands. Russia is holding negotiations on the peace treaty. These negotiations are based on the provisions of the Soviet-Japanese Declaration of 1956. Everything is transparent and clear. There's no opportunity to manipulate or distort, and so on.
Today, all of a sudden, out of the blue, the Japanese agency presents it as a sensation and tells that Russia and Japan allegedly stopped discussing the fate of the islands because Moscow refused to do it. It's impossible to stop discussing what was never discussed. We discussed the peace treaty. Therefore, having the opportunity, I'd like to say hello to Tokyo and tell that our parties agreed to avoid bogus stories and do everything possible to maintain a constructive, friendly atmosphere that promotes positive results. For its part, Moscow fulfills its obligations.
- That was strong but I didn't understand anything about the fate of the islands. But I'd better not understand it to preserve the peace-loving tone and secrecy. But I hope that we won't give the islands away.
- Vladimir Rudolfovich, our islands are all right.
- Oh Okay, I like that!
