On February 19, RIAC programme assistants Anton Tsvetov and Vladimir Morozov attended presentation of paper “Russia's Pacific Future: Solving the Kuril Islands Dispute” produced by Moscow Carnegie Center Director Dmitry Trenin, a RIAC member, and Yuval Weber, a doctoral candidate at the University of Texas. The event attracted attention of Russian, Japanese and Chinese journalists and representatives of research centers including RAS Institute of Far Eastern Studies, RAS Institute of World Economy and International Relations, MGIMO-University, Russian APEC Studies Center, and Macarthur Foundation.
On February 19, RIAC programme assistants Anton Tsvetov and Vladimir Morozov attended presentation of paper “Russia's Pacific Future: Solving the Kuril Islands Dispute” produced by Moscow Carnegie Center Director Dmitry Trenin, a RIAC member, and Yuval Weber, a doctoral candidate at the University of Texas. The event attracted attention of Russian, Japanese and Chinese journalists and representatives of research centers including RAS Institute of Far Eastern Studies, RAS Institute of World Economy and International Relations, MGIMO-University, Russian APEC Studies Center, and Macarthur Foundation.
The authors presented the paper’s key points, suggesting a compromise scenario for the South Kuril settlement through the handover of the four islands to Japan, while the territories will make a joint economic zone similar to the Hong Kong scheme. The audience’s response to the transfer proposal was expectedly mixed but Dr. Trenin insisted that dividends should by far outweigh the losses. The settlement should turn Japan into modern Germany of the East, i.e. a reliable partner with a regional economic leader status, and also promote establishment of stable and predictable relations with neighbor states.
The speakers gave a lot of attention to the politico-psychological aspects of the matter, pointing out that domestic interests make the key barrier to a constructive discussion at the top level, while at the same time the consensus dead-end seems to suit both sides as the problem appears unsolvable.
Our representatives acquainted the forum with RIAC’s accomplishments in the field, i.e. report “Current State of Russia’s Relations with Japan and Prospects for their Development” prepared under guidance of RIAC Member Alexander Panov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary. The paper suggests a set of steps aimed to elevate the Russian-Japanese relationship to a new level and bolster Russia’s stance in the dynamically growing Asia-Pacific.
Presentation of paper “Russia's Pacific Future: Solving the Kuril Islands Dispute”
