 States that would make it difficult for Japan to get American support for this. When you and I were intelligence officers, we were not supposed to analyze our own country, right? That was one of the cardinal – but heck, we're out of there now, so we cannot talk about it. But I'm wondering about the – to achieve the goals that you set forth, I think maybe Japan, unilaterally lifting sanctions, is a way to start it that would – might torpedo it at the very beginning. But can you think of a set of practical steps that Japan could take that would bring the United States along, even as it brings Russia along, to setting the example in the Pacific that could then be transferred up elsewhere? Have you thought about some of those intermediate steps, or are you just really setting the vision of where we ought to go? Well, I would think that considering the nature of Russian decision-making, as we understand it these days, there is no substitute for a conversation with Mr. Putin, either through direct contact or through some very close and highly trusted intermediary. Everything we know about Russian decision-making suggests that Mr. Putin is surrounded by a very small circle of advisors, and something as big as this would have to be approved personally by him. And on several occasions we have seen that he himself is his own foreign policy strategist, and he makes key decisions, sometimes without consulting with his associates. So I would think that perhaps – and it may already exist, for all I know or for all I don't know – the launch of a dialogue about the relationship more broadly and rebuilding a measure of trust with Japan perhaps taking the initiative but quietly, and again inviting him to a conversation. Again, from what we have seen in the past, oftentimes launching a conversation without necessarily having a set of preconceived outcomes is more important than having a clear vision. Now I'm mindful of Yogi Berrin, you know, if you don't know where you're going you'll end up somewhere else, but under the circumstances given how little each side has to go on, I think it's important to engage. And given Mr. Putin's obvious isolation from other world leaders who treat him now basically as a pariah, I think Prime Minister Abe's presumably initiative would be an important step. And not necessarily I think criticized in Washington because as we saw yesterday when the opportunity presented itself, President Obama himself decided to sit down with Mr. Putin face to face almost without any aides and just have a conversation whatever they talked about we can only guess, but it's very important. And I would say again we all need to give it more thought but I would think that we need to start a conversation about it's the old sort of approach. You tell me what your grievances are, I tell you what my grievances are, our interests and we see where they overlap and build from that. I don't see any other way, it's old and tried, but there is no better way as far as I can tell. We have some very seasoned diplomats here so they may have a better answer to this. Well thank you very much, I think that's where it was. It's also a stressful opportunity. Yep, yep, yep, no that's excellent. I was also reminded in your final quotation there about how our conversations this morning did sound sort of 19th century to me. It was not all of the issues that we think are going to be the issues of the future transnational issues whether it be combating violent extremist Islamist terrorism or global climate change or actually I guess, let's see, Dr. Toleray had a list of Russia's proposals for Asian cooperation which were very much 21st century sorts of concerns. We keep getting drug back into the 19th century and I think that Metternich and Bismarck would be very comfortable sitting in this same seminar now that we've been sitting in and somehow I think we've got to get our vision up out of these issues into the broader area that I think we face as a world together which will have less to do with who owns which island and more to do with these other things and I hope that we can do that. But let's turn it into a discussion with the audience. I'm going to take questions but first I'm going to ask Ambassador Tolgo to give his reaction since what was proposed by Dr. Römer quite coincidentally. Thank you very much for asking me. But one question first, was it your grandfather who was involved in the war with Russia that we had to solve? Yes, yes. He was ambassador to Moscow before World War II started and then he became foreign minister of Pearl Harbor and then foreign minister which ended World War II. But coming to your question, I was so impressed. I really did not expect that the speech which I just heard comes from the Lantern speech. My understanding of Lantern speech was that it sets a tone. This was really totally different compared to the image I had on Washington. Simply but gratified. The main point you mentioned that there's a need for direct talk with Putin. I cannot agree more. I gave certain suggestion but that was just an example. Given my experience with Russia, having direct talk with Putin or the number one person is so important. But one word of criticism against Abe. Abe was known at the beginning of February last year to have five meetings with Putin and he was proud of himself of having this personal contact. But you know when after the Ukrainian crisis he had his first direct talk with Putin that was in September last year. Seven months have passed. Abe to my knowledge, Abe did not make even one single telephone call. So something was really wrong in that approach of establishing and enhancing direct ties with Putin. And I think about since then he tried to improve his contacts. But in order to restore Japan-Russia relations I think something more than just dialogue is necessary. But having said that, continuing this effort for direct contact really, really necessary and I cannot agree more. Thank you very much. I will go back to Japan with much brighter feelings now. This is not necessarily the prevailing you in Washington. Please. But Ambassador Panov, I know that you and Ambassador Togo can finish each other's sentences having negotiated so long but I'd be interested in your ideas. I agree with my presentation in a way that you spoke in favor of better Russian-Japanese relations. So far I witnessed quite opposite position of the United States and I remember that after State Secretary Kerry visited Sochi in May this year so Japanese politicians were very much excited. Okay, so Kerry was in Sochi. Now we will start talks with Russia. Why not? And almost immediately Don Russell, who is deputy of the State Secretary, he said we assume that Japan will not follow this pattern set by Kerry and will not be engaged in business with Russia as usual. And later also several times from White House there were reprimands toward Japan not to be engaged in business with Russia as usual. So, well, of course we would like to see better relations between Russia and Japan but as I said I'm not optimistic, not pessimistic, I'm realistic and what I see at this stage I'm sure Abba maybe he really wants to do something but I don't think he is brave enough to do this. He has many restrictions inside Japan and outside Japan. So, well, and one more point of course for Russia relations with Japan is a very important strategy, might be very important in strategy to realize pivot way into Asia Pacific but you know I'm rather skeptical about Russian pivot toward East. We talk a lot, we put many slogans but when I see reality you are quite right that well Putin are not planning to go to vanilla and to some other very important meetings he was not so much keen to participate in East Asia Summit for instance and it is as I understand it because still for Russia this region is not so important as a Europe is of course and to balance Europe by developing relations with the East I think is not the way realistic one. Thank you very much both of you. I'm afraid I've run out of time in the discussion but we did have one question up front sir and then we'll wind up. I have actually two questions, my name is Strelsov from the University of Moscow. The first one you spoke about the possible role of Japan as a so-called weak league in the anti-Russian front of the West the role of a good cop in conversation with Russia. So, to my mind there is one important prerequisite for such role connected with Japan's positions towards Russia which is in deep conjunction with North Territory's issue. So such role could be played as a sort of package deal when Japan calculates it could have some compromise on Russia on the territory's issue. So the first question is do you think is it possible for Japan to establish such conversation with Mr Putin without such conjunction, without such deep correspondence with these territories issue? This is my first question. And the second question is if such a deal is necessary what could be the role of the United States? Because as we know from history the United States contributed to the establishment of the emergence of this North Territory's issue in the mid-50s when the United States supported Japan's position on four islands and so on and so forth. So what could be the role? Could the United States perhaps contribute to freezing this issue or to postponing or to some other settlement of this issue? Because as far as I understand Russia and Japan together at present are unable to find a conclusion. Thank you. I think that that's just a different way of asking a question which we've discussed here previously and Dr. Umar's answer which I thought was a good one is you've got to start talking and see if it's there. So I'm not going to ask you to restate what you just told us but any concluding remarks, Jean, that you would like to leave us with? Just that there are no guarantees here as we all know but we'll never get there if we don't try and I think given the stakes for all concern we ought to try. Thank you very much if you're joining me. Jeffrey. Okay everyone if I could ask a panel three, a panelist to please come up and we're going to just take about five minutes here as we get the stage set and get everybody mic'd up. Please don't go too far, maybe get up and stretch but don't go too far. Thank you very much. Thank you. Mine is not the majority of you here.