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Pakistani President Asif Zardari has asked that the deal which Japan is negotiating with India to cooperate in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, should also be extended to Pakistan. He stated, "If Japan is willing to cooperate with India in nuclear technology and (is) giving nuclear technology for peaceful purpose; I do not see any reason why we should not deserve the same." He made these remarks before undertaking a three- day visit to Japan.1 Meanwhile, Japan and Indonesia have agreed to boost their strategic partnership to secure common interests in the Asian region as the two countries held their first ministerial strategic dialogue in Tokyo.2
A Russian foreign ministry spokesperson noted that the much awaited peace treaty between Russia and Japan must not be related only to their territorial dispute. He stated, "A Russia-Japan peace treaty must mark the new level of cooperation with Japan in politics, trade, economy, innovations, technologies and so on."3 There are also reports that crisis talks between Russia and Japan over four Pacific islands on February 18, ended in acrimonious failure. This happened because Tokyo reaffirmed its claim on the chain and Moscow accused its neighbour of extreme behaviour.4 It is believed that Moscow is planning to send new air defense systems, possibly including S-400 rockets, to islands at the center of a territorial dispute with Japan.5
In other developments, according to newly declassified Japanese diplomatic documents, the United States, in 1969, demanded Japan pay $650 million, worth some 234 billion yen under the exchange rate at that time, to finance unspecified costs related to the 1972 reversion of Okinawa to Japanese sovereignty from US control.6
- 1. “Pakistani leader seeks Japanese nuclear cooperation ahead of visit+” Associated Press, February 19, 2011 at http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9LFRT602&show_article=1
- 2. “Japan, Indonesia agree to boost strategic partnership+” Associated Press, February 18, 2011 at http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9LF6MU00&show_article=1
- 3. “Russia wants peace treaty with Japan to mark new level of cooperation” Xinhua, February 17, 2011 at http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2011-02/17/c_13737181.htm
- 4. “Russia, Japan crisis talks end in failure” Yahoo News, February 11, 2011 at http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110211/wl_afp/russiajapandiplomacy_2011021...
- 5. “Russia may deploy rockets on disputed islands: report” Reuters, February 15, 2011 at http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/15/us-russia-japan-defence-idUSTR...
- 6. “U.S. demanded Japan pay $650 mil. in Okinawa reversion costs+” Associated Press, February 17, 2011 at http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9LESB581&show_article=1