Russo-Japanese Cooperation Imperative to bring Peace Treaty Negotiations Back on the Right Track

On the territorial issue between Japan and Russia, Sumio Edamura, former Japanese Ambassador in Moscow from 1990 to 1994, urges the negotiators to restore the spirit of trust and cooperation which once prevailed. To that end, he argues that it is imperative that both countries reconfirm their intention to continue to use the Tokyo Declaration of 1993 ‐ which contains clear guidelines for the resolution of this issue ‐ as the basis for the their future negotiations. The negotiators on both sides should have the courage to face up to the truth and be consistent without being swayed by the changing political pressures or the mood of the times.