Д.Медведев.Пресс-конференция G8.09.07.08.Part 2

Press Conference following the G8 Summit.Part 2
July 9, 2008
Toyako, Hokkaido, Japan

Пресс-конференция по окончании встречи глав государств и правительств «Группы восьми»
9 июля 2008 года
Япония, Хоккайдо, Тояко-онсэн

As before, counteracting international terrorism is a relevant topic. The positions of our countries on this issue remain unchanged, as our joint statement has indicated. We also reiterated the central role of the United Nations Organization in fighting that evil and new G8 steps in the field of counter-terrorism.

We have managed to narrow the differences over the most complicated regional and international issues: we have discussed them seriously and in some detail. I mean the settlement of the situation in Afghanistan, the Middle East, and the nuclear programmes of Iran and the Korean Peoples Democratic Republic. On all these topics we have similar or identical positions on how to solve these crisis situations.

In light of developments in the Middle East, we have confirmed our proposal to host, in Moscow, a conference in support of Middle East peace settlement.

A few words about the meeting between the G8 leaders and those of five major developing countries. The discussion has shown that it is necessary to work consistently to bring the interaction with these states to a new level, to build on the foundation of the Heiligendamm process. Obviously, today no global problem can be solved without taking into account the opinion of leading countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

To sum up, I would stress again my opinion that the G8 today offers realistic and quite promising ways of solving the global problems of security and development. Russia will continue to take an active part in this common work using its increasing potential. We have seen further proof that such a contribution and such initiatives are welcomed by our G8 partners and the world community as a whole.

Once again, I would like to thank our Japanese colleagues for their hospitality and to wish them success at the concluding stage of the G8 presidency. Thank you. I am ready to answer your questions.

QUESTION: Welcome to Japan. We have had a good impression of and have heard good things about your participation in the summit. What is your opinion of it? How close and how divergent are the positions of Russia and Japan on the main problems discussed during the summit, and during the bilateral talks with Japan? Thank you.

DMITRY MEDVEDEV: Thank you. I have already said that in my opinion our Japanese friends have made very good preparations for the summit. Like my colleagues, I think, I felt very comfortable working here, everything has been done with Japanese thoroughness and punctuality. In that sense I for one had all the necessary conditions for effective work, for contacts with my G8 colleagues both in the formal events and during informal meetings. So I would like once again to convey through you my gratitude to the Japanese side for the excellent preparation of the G8 summit.

As for our relations, I had a full-scale and fairly extended meeting, considering the G8 format, with my colleague, Prime Minister Fukuda. I see that meeting as one of the most important meetings that I have had at the summit. It has demonstrated that Russia and Japan have similar or simply the same positions on a very broad range of issues, including the issues that were directly discussed at the summit. I am referring to economics, the development of the social sphere, environmental problems and the settlement of complicated political situations. Therefore I believe that our relations are developing very dynamically and economic links have strengthened significantly in recent times. There are some very large projects for which very significant sums have been allocated. For example, more than $5 billion was recently allocated for the Sakhalin project. There are multiple other examples. This is good and very solid evidence of how we propose to go about developing our relations.

I can say the same about the strengthening of cultural ties. Exhibitions are taking place. Shortly before visiting Japan I dropped by to take a look at one such exhibition, it was devoted to the history of the Samurais. It is taking place at the Kremlin, a symbolic place for any Russian. In that sense everything is good. Our bilateral meeting has shown that we have very good prospects for the development of cooperation.

There is one remaining problem in our relations, I mean the solution of the border issue, but we have agreed to continue working on that issue in accordance with the principles laid down earlier.

Once again I would like to thank all the Japanese colleagues and Prime Minister Fukuda personally for the very warm and good atmosphere that was created during our work.

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