WEBVTT

1
00:02:06.419 --> 00:02:10.566
I was told that you wanted to see my dog,

2
00:02:10.566 --> 00:02:15.118
Yume. You can see that she is in great shape.

3
00:02:15.118 --> 00:02:20.478
Thank you very much. The dog is very cheerful indeed.

4
00:02:20.478 --> 00:02:27.761
We would like to thank you again for finding time to grant an interview 

5
00:02:27.761 --> 00:02:31.098
to Nippon TV and Yomiuri Shimbun.

6
00:02:31.098 --> 00:02:35.447
This dog is an Akita from Akita Prefecture,

7
00:02:35.447 --> 00:02:40.201
and we are glad to see Yume happy and cheerful.

8
00:02:40.201 --> 00:02:45.157
However, we were a bit surprised and afraid that 

9
00:02:45.157 --> 00:02:50.012
the beginning of the meeting would be like this.

10
00:02:50.012 --> 00:02:53.147
You were right to take caution,

11
00:02:53.147 --> 00:02:55.777
Yume is a no-nonsense dog.

12
00:02:55.777 --> 00:03:01.036
There are many people here, with camcorders running,

13
00:03:01.036 --> 00:03:08.961
lights shining and cameras clicking. She is being a guard dog.

14
00:03:08.961 --> 00:03:15.735
Well, I believe the dog always defends you like this.

15
00:03:15.735 --> 00:03:21.844
Yes, she does.

16
00:03:21.844 --> 00:03:27.175
So, very soon you will visit Japan as President.

17
00:03:27.175 --> 00:03:32.723
I believe you are very busy.

18
00:03:32.723 --> 00:03:38.676
The last time I was in Japan as President of Russia was 11 

19
00:03:38.676 --> 00:03:41.501
years ago, if memory serves.

20
00:03:41.501 --> 00:03:46.445
I later visited in my capacity as Prime Minister.

21
00:03:46.445 --> 00:03:52.197
However, I am in regular contact with Prime Minister Abe.

22
00:03:52.197 --> 00:03:55.829
We have met several times this year.

23
00:03:55.829 --> 00:04:02.892
This time you will meet and talk with Prime Minister Abe in Yamaguchi 

24
00:04:02.892 --> 00:04:06.524
Prefecture, the place he calls home.

25
00:04:06.524 --> 00:04:10.258
What do you expect from this meeting?

26
00:04:10.258 --> 00:04:15.605
I have a huge interest in Japan, which is well known,

27
00:04:15.605 --> 00:04:19.036
including its history and culture,

28
00:04:19.036 --> 00:04:24.989
and so it will be very interesting for me to see and learn 

29
00:04:24.989 --> 00:04:31.447
more about Japan. I have been to Tokyo and several other cities,

30
00:04:31.447 --> 00:04:36.088
but I have never been to Yamaguchi Prefecture.

31
00:04:36.088 --> 00:04:42.747
I wonder what it is like, what interesting things it has to offer.

32
00:04:42.747 --> 00:04:48.801
I am sure that Prime Minister Abe will tell me all about it.

33
00:04:48.801 --> 00:04:54.653
There are also hot springs there. Do you like hot springs?

34
00:04:54.653 --> 00:05:00.707
This never occurred to me, but yes, it could be interesting.

35
00:05:00.707 --> 00:05:04.743
You are well known in Japan as a judoka.

36
00:05:04.743 --> 00:05:10.797
In the Kodokan Institute Hall in 2000 you demonstrated your 

37
00:05:10.797 --> 00:05:17.154
throwing technique. Your image as an athlete has made a strong 

38
00:05:17.154 --> 00:05:22.703
impression in Japan. Let me say a few words about judo.

39
00:05:22.703 --> 00:05:29.060
We asked famous and respected master Mr Yamashita to share his 

40
00:05:29.060 --> 00:05:35.518
impressions of his meeting with you. We recorded this interview.

41
00:05:35.518 --> 00:05:39.957
Please watch it ‒ it is about a minute long.

42
00:05:39.957 --> 00:05:42.094
(viewing a video)

43
00:05:42.094 --> 00:05:58.696
(Yamashita): I met with the President not as an athlete before a fight.

44
00:05:58.696 --> 00:06:03.025
We discussed the issue of the four islands,

45
00:06:03.025 --> 00:06:07.254
and I was always stunned by his abilities.

46
00:06:07.254 --> 00:06:11.180
He is not at all like other presidents.

47
00:06:11.180 --> 00:06:17.220
A man holding such a high position is willing to talk to us.

48
00:06:17.220 --> 00:06:23.764
I recall different instances. Sometimes his words sounded chilly.

49
00:06:23.764 --> 00:06:30.409
But so what? After all, he is always defending Russia’s interests.

50
00:06:30.409 --> 00:06:34.939
So regardless of the fact that he likes judo,

51
00:06:34.939 --> 00:06:41.080
there is no reason to expect him to act in Japan’s interests.

52
00:06:41.080 --> 00:06:42.691
Did you like it?

53
00:06:42.691 --> 00:06:45.711
It is a pleasure to hear that.

54
00:06:45.711 --> 00:06:51.550
Mr Yamashita is a respected judo master not only in Japan 

55
00:06:51.550 --> 00:06:53.664
but across the world.

56
00:06:53.664 --> 00:07:00.711
To me, he is an example of an outstanding athlete and a very good man.

57
00:07:00.711 --> 00:07:06.944
Judo has been part of Japanese culture for a long time.

58
00:07:06.944 --> 00:07:11.136
It makes sense to me that this sport,

59
00:07:11.136 --> 00:07:15.782
which is both athletic and philosophical,

60
00:07:15.782 --> 00:07:18.162
was created in Japan.

61
00:07:18.162 --> 00:07:25.527
It is based on respect for the partner and for our elders as our 

62
00:07:25.527 --> 00:07:31.533
teachers, which is very important and makes a strong,

63
00:07:31.533 --> 00:07:35.245
positive contribution to human relationships,

64
00:07:35.245 --> 00:07:40.179
and not only in sports.

65
00:07:40.179 --> 00:07:54.336
I am happy that life brought me to this wonderful sport as a child.

66
00:07:54.336 --> 00:07:57.284
It is like my first love.

67
00:07:57.284 --> 00:08:03.886
I like other sports, too, including skiing and swimming,

68
00:08:03.886 --> 00:08:08.720
and I am learning to play ice hockey now.

69
00:08:08.720 --> 00:08:18.123
But judo is definitely part of my life, a very big part,

70
00:08:18.123 --> 00:08:25.140
and I am glad that judo was the first sport I took up and that I have 

71
00:08:25.140 --> 00:08:28.849
practiced it regularly and seriously.

72
00:08:28.849 --> 00:08:32.557
I am also grateful to Japan for this.

73
00:08:32.557 --> 00:08:35.665
When you were in Japan in 2000,

74
00:08:35.665 --> 00:08:42.481
you visited Kodokan. Are you planning to visit it this time as well?

75
00:08:42.481 --> 00:08:49.297
Honestly, I do not even know whether this is on the visit itinerary,

76
00:08:49.297 --> 00:08:55.111
but if there is time, I would be pleased to go to Kodokan.

77
00:08:55.111 --> 00:08:59.722
For anyone interested in judo, who loves judo,

78
00:08:59.722 --> 00:09:02.428
Kodokan is a special place.

79
00:09:02.428 --> 00:09:09.782
Kodokan is, to a large degree, a trendsetter in the sport.

80
00:09:09.782 --> 00:09:14.795
This school trained outstanding masters and is a kind 

81
00:09:14.795 --> 00:09:20.380
of Mecca for all judokas.

82
00:09:20.380 --> 00:09:27.331
Certainly, I would be pleased to visit, if time permits.

83
00:09:27.331 --> 00:09:33.909
We strongly hope that you will have that opportunity.

84
00:09:33.909 --> 00:09:41.728
Allow me to touch on the subject of Japanese-Russian relations.

85
00:09:41.728 --> 00:09:48.182
On December 15, you will visit Yamaguchi prefecture,

86
00:09:48.182 --> 00:09:51.905
which is where Mr Abe is from.

87
00:09:51.905 --> 00:09:58.235
It will be your fourth top-level meeting this year.

88
00:09:58.235 --> 00:10:05.310
We all hope that this format has a profound significance.

89
00:10:05.310 --> 00:10:08.433
What do you think of it?

90
00:10:08.433 --> 00:10:15.028
I believe that meetings at the top level in a relatively informal 

91
00:10:15.028 --> 00:10:22.121
atmosphere are always useful, and there is reason to hope that we will 

92
00:10:22.121 --> 00:10:28.316
make progress in resolving the matters we will be considering.

93
00:10:28.316 --> 00:10:32.912
I remember my very first encounter with Japan.

94
00:10:32.912 --> 00:10:37.907
At that time, I was Deputy Mayor of St Petersburg.

95
00:10:37.907 --> 00:10:44.002
Out of nowhere, Japan’s Consul General in St Petersburg came 

96
00:10:44.002 --> 00:10:49.797
to my office and said Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs 

97
00:10:49.797 --> 00:10:52.694
wanted to invite me to Japan.

98
00:10:52.694 --> 00:10:58.689
I was very surprised because I had nothing to do with Japan 

99
00:10:58.689 --> 00:11:00.887
except being a judoka.

100
00:11:00.887 --> 00:11:07.681
This was an opportunity to visit Tokyo and a couple of other cities.

101
00:11:07.681 --> 00:11:14.874
And, you know, a capital is a capital everywhere: there is the official 

102
00:11:14.874 --> 00:11:17.672
script and certain protocol.

103
00:11:17.672 --> 00:11:22.168
It is always easier to talk in the provinces,

104
00:11:22.168 --> 00:11:25.465
the conversation is more natural.

105
00:11:25.465 --> 00:11:32.459
Therefore, I hope that being in places from the Prime Minister’s past 

106
00:11:32.459 --> 00:11:37.954
will motivate us to have a sincere, very practical and,

107
00:11:37.954 --> 00:11:41.151
I hope, productive conversation.

108
00:11:41.151 --> 00:11:49.862
This year it will be 60 years since Prime Minister Hatoyama and Prime 

109
00:11:49.862 --> 00:12:01.398
Minister Bulganin signed the Joint Japanese-Soviet Declaration of 1956.

110
00:12:01.398 --> 00:12:07.384
The Japanese people are pinning high hopes on this historic 

111
00:12:07.384 --> 00:12:09.080
landmark as well.

112
00:12:09.080 --> 00:12:13.768
Do you think something special may be expected?

113
00:12:13.768 --> 00:12:20.652
You mentioned the 60th anniversary of the signing of the declaration.

114
00:12:20.652 --> 00:12:26.737
It is 60 years since the restoration of diplomatic relations,

115
00:12:26.737 --> 00:12:32.922
but relations between Japan and Russia have much deeper roots.

116
00:12:32.922 --> 00:12:37.711
In all, our diplomatic ties date back 150 years,

117
00:12:37.711 --> 00:12:44.465
more than 150 years now.

118
00:12:44.465 --> 00:12:51.341
Therefore, I do not think we should go only 60 years back but should 

119
00:12:51.341 --> 00:12:54.131
look deeper, centuries back.

120
00:12:54.131 --> 00:12:58.814
Maybe this will give us an opportunity to look 

121
00:12:58.814 --> 00:13:03.299
at the future from a more remote perspective.

122
00:13:03.299 --> 00:13:12.515
As for these 60 years, and in general more than a hundred years,

123
00:13:12.515 --> 00:13:22.596
we have had different periods in relations and there have been tragic 

124
00:13:22.596 --> 00:13:31.956
pages in our history, but since 1956 when we restored diplomatic 

125
00:13:31.956 --> 00:13:42.181
relations, regrettably, we have not had a foundation on which to build 

126
00:13:42.181 --> 00:13:51.398
ties that would correspond to our wishes and that are currently 

127
00:13:51.398 --> 00:13:59.870
required in bilateral cooperation.

128
00:13:59.870 --> 00:14:05.224
We are natural partners in the world and the Far East,

129
00:14:05.224 --> 00:14:12.362
but the absence of a peace treaty does not allow us to develop the full 

130
00:14:12.362 --> 00:14:14.643
range of our relations.

131
00:14:14.643 --> 00:14:20.195
Therefore, we will naturally strive to sign this treaty.

132
00:14:20.195 --> 00:14:24.756
We want full-scale normalisation of relations.

133
00:14:24.756 --> 00:14:31.299
The absence of a peace treaty is an anachronism we inherited from 

134
00:14:31.299 --> 00:14:34.472
the past and it must be removed.

135
00:14:34.472 --> 00:14:39.132
However, how to do this is a complicated issue.

136
00:14:39.132 --> 00:14:42.503
You recalled the 1956 declaration,

137
00:14:42.503 --> 00:14:49.146
and this declaration established the rules that should be followed 

138
00:14:49.146 --> 00:14:54.797
by both sides and that should be put into the foundation 

139
00:14:54.797 --> 00:15:01.440
of a peace treaty. If you carefully read the text of this document,

140
00:15:01.440 --> 00:15:07.884
you will see that the declaration will take effect after we sign 

141
00:15:07.884 --> 00:15:13.833
a peace treaty and the two islands are transferred to Japan.

142
00:15:13.833 --> 00:15:20.872
It does not say on what terms they should be transferred and what side 

143
00:15:20.872 --> 00:15:24.442
will exercise sovereignty over them.

144
00:15:24.442 --> 00:15:31.085
Yet this document was signed and not only signed but also ratified 

145
00:15:31.085 --> 00:15:36.835
by both the USSR Supreme Soviet, or the Soviet Parliament,

146
00:15:36.835 --> 00:15:39.115
and Japan’s Parliament.

147
00:15:39.115 --> 00:15:46.155
However, after this was done, Japan announced that it would not comply 

148
00:15:46.155 --> 00:15:48.336
with this declaration.

149
00:15:48.336 --> 00:15:55.475
Later on, the Soviet Union also declared that the declaration could not 

150
00:15:55.475 --> 00:15:59.936
be fulfilled unilaterally, by the USSR alone.

151
00:15:59.936 --> 00:16:06.678
In 2000 the then Prime Minister of Japan asked me to return to this 

152
00:16:06.678 --> 00:16:13.420
process, this conversation, these talks, and to do so, incidentally,

153
00:16:13.420 --> 00:16:18.080
on the basis of the 1956 declaration. I agreed.

154
00:16:18.080 --> 00:16:25.020
Since then we have conducted dialogue in this regard but I cannot say 

155
00:16:25.020 --> 00:16:30.840
that our Japanese partners and friends have remained within the limits 

156
00:16:30.840 --> 00:16:34.439
of the 1956 declaration.

157
00:16:34.439 --> 00:16:38.999
I think it is too early to pre-empt our talks with the Prime Minister 

158
00:16:38.999 --> 00:16:42.007
but, of course, we hope to make progress.

159
00:16:42.007 --> 00:16:49.855
You said that the 1956 joint declaration is a fundamental document.

160
00:16:49.855 --> 00:16:57.704
Mr President, you have repeatedly discussed this subject with many 

161
00:16:57.704 --> 00:17:01.921
Japanese prime ministers since 2000.

162
00:17:01.921 --> 00:17:06.021
The current Prime Minister, Mr Abe,

163
00:17:06.021 --> 00:17:13.635
acts on the assumption that a peace treaty may be signed subject 

164
00:17:13.635 --> 00:17:19.492
to a settlement on the status of the four islands.

165
00:17:19.492 --> 00:17:26.520
We understand that you and Mr Abe have been discussing this 

166
00:17:26.520 --> 00:17:29.800
subject for over a year now.

167
00:17:29.800 --> 00:17:35.775
Last autumn in New York (true, for only 10 minutes)

168
00:17:35.775 --> 00:17:41.983
, this year in Sochi, in Vladivostok and in Lima you 

169
00:17:41.983 --> 00:17:44.794
discussed it one-on-one.

170
00:17:44.794 --> 00:17:52.409
We have calculated that conversations in this format have lasted 

171
00:17:52.409 --> 00:17:56.626
a total of two hours and 15 minutes.

172
00:17:56.626 --> 00:18:01.546
Apparently, it was an in-depth discussion.

173
00:18:01.546 --> 00:18:06.527
What prospects, in your view, are there for a decision to sign a peace 

174
00:18:06.527 --> 00:18:14.023
treaty to be made at the upcoming meeting?

175
00:18:14.023 --> 00:18:18.077
Of course, we will work towards that end.

176
00:18:18.077 --> 00:18:22.724
Of course, we will work to achieve this result.

177
00:18:22.724 --> 00:18:27.865
However, you have just mentioned the 1956 agreement,

178
00:18:27.865 --> 00:18:34.292
and one may recall that these negotiations were later terminated,

179
00:18:34.292 --> 00:18:37.555
in effect, on Japan’s initiative.

180
00:18:37.555 --> 00:18:41.609
At the request of my Japanese colleagues,

181
00:18:41.609 --> 00:18:48.431
in 2000 we revisited the possibility of signing a peace treaty based 

182
00:18:48.431 --> 00:18:50.607
on the 1956 agreement.

183
00:18:50.607 --> 00:18:57.528
However, the 1956 agreement refers to two islands while you have just 

184
00:18:57.528 --> 00:19:03.362
said that the Prime Minister is talking about four islands.

185
00:19:03.362 --> 00:19:09.591
Therefore, we have already gone outside the bounds of the 1956 

186
00:19:09.591 --> 00:19:15.227
agreement. This is quite a different situation and quite 

187
00:19:15.227 --> 00:19:17.303
a different approach.

188
00:19:17.303 --> 00:19:22.741
I believe it is no secret that I like Japan very much –

189
00:19:22.741 --> 00:19:26.696
Japanese culture, sport, including judo,

190
00:19:26.696 --> 00:19:33.420
but it will not offend anyone if I say that I like Russia even more.

191
00:19:33.420 --> 00:19:40.440
Therefore, the Prime Minister and I will negotiate proceeding from our 

192
00:19:40.440 --> 00:19:47.460
national interests: the interests of Russia and the interests of Japan.

193
00:19:47.460 --> 00:19:50.228
We should find a compromise.

194
00:19:50.228 --> 00:19:56.458
We should understand that the results of that terrible tragedy 

195
00:19:56.458 --> 00:20:00.511
of the 20th century, namely World War II,

196
00:20:00.511 --> 00:20:05.950
are enshrined in corresponding international documents,

197
00:20:05.950 --> 00:20:12.970
and finding a way to settle all disputes without destroying the entire 

198
00:20:12.970 --> 00:20:19.891
foundation of international law that evolved as a result of World War 

199
00:20:19.891 --> 00:20:22.758
II is a highly delicate task.

200
00:20:22.758 --> 00:20:29.185
Therefore, I would like to reiterate that we cannot second-guess 

201
00:20:29.185 --> 00:20:34.525
the course, let alone the outcome of our negotiations.

202
00:20:34.525 --> 00:20:40.853
Everything that we are talking about has come to us as a result 

203
00:20:40.853 --> 00:20:43.819
of the events of 70 years ago.

204
00:20:43.819 --> 00:20:50.345
In some way or other, during these 70 years we have been involved 

205
00:20:50.345 --> 00:20:54.102
in some kind of dialogue on the issue,

206
00:20:54.102 --> 00:20:59.144
and that includes the conclusion of a peace treaty.

207
00:20:59.144 --> 00:21:04.029
However, I wish that in the course of my visit to places the Prime 

208
00:21:04.029 --> 00:21:06.947
Minister calls home, all of a sudden,

209
00:21:06.947 --> 00:21:10.708
we would reach a clear understanding on how we can resolve the matters.

210
00:21:10.708 --> 00:21:15.355
We will be very glad if that happens. Are there any chances? Perhaps.

211
00:21:15.355 --> 00:21:19.115
There is always a chance, or else it makes no sense to talk.

212
00:21:19.115 --> 00:21:21.401
How great is it? Right now, it is difficult for me to say,

213
00:21:21.401 --> 00:21:23.840
because this will depend, among other things,

214
00:21:23.840 --> 00:21:26.055
on the flexibility of our partners.

215
00:21:26.075 --> 00:21:31.937
I am not a politician, not a diplomat and not a negotiator.

216
00:21:31.937 --> 00:21:37.600
However, as a Japanese citizen and a member of the media,

217
00:21:37.600 --> 00:21:44.456
I would like to note that a very favourable situation has developed: 

218
00:21:44.456 --> 00:21:48.927
the 60th anniversary of the 1956 declaration.

219
00:21:48.927 --> 00:21:54.689
Mr President, you enjoy remarkably high political support 

220
00:21:54.689 --> 00:21:58.564
in your country. It is over 80 percent.

221
00:21:58.564 --> 00:22:05.618
And the Abe Government also has the strongest position in Japan of all 

222
00:22:05.618 --> 00:22:08.996
the previous Japanese governments.

223
00:22:08.996 --> 00:22:14.858
Polls show it has the support of 50 percent, or 52 percent.

224
00:22:14.858 --> 00:22:20.499
Taking into account these factors, and the timing,

225
00:22:20.499 --> 00:22:27.156
and adding a third condition, specifically that previously,

226
00:22:27.156 --> 00:22:35.279
a majority held the view that the four islands should be returned while 

227
00:22:35.279 --> 00:22:42.951
now, according to a poll, a far greater number of Japanese citizens 

228
00:22:42.951 --> 00:22:50.962
believe two islands should be returned first, as a member of the media,

229
00:22:50.962 --> 00:22:58.859
I believe that all of the three necessary conditions are now in place.

230
00:22:58.859 --> 00:23:05.178
And if so many conditions have come together, naturally,

231
00:23:05.178 --> 00:23:12.060
we would like to hope that this complicated situation, which,

232
00:23:12.060 --> 00:23:19.619
as I understood from your remarks, still exists, would be overcome.

233
00:23:19.619 --> 00:23:27.404
You have made a very good point: both the Prime Minister and I enjoy 

234
00:23:27.404 --> 00:23:34.737
a fairly high level of trust among the citizens of our countries.

235
00:23:34.737 --> 00:23:42.635
However, personally, I see this as not having the right to abuse this 

236
00:23:42.635 --> 00:23:50.194
trust, and any decision we reach should correspond to the national 

237
00:23:50.194 --> 00:23:54.256
interests of the Russian Federation.

238
00:23:54.256 --> 00:24:00.912
Yet our interests, the interests of the Russian Federation,

239
00:24:00.912 --> 00:24:06.554
include the normalisation of relations with Japan,

240
00:24:06.554 --> 00:24:11.179
which is not at the bottom of the agenda.

241
00:24:11.179 --> 00:24:17.497
The whole range of what will be proposed for a solution,

242
00:24:17.497 --> 00:24:24.718
the entire range of matters related to the normalisation of our 

243
00:24:24.718 --> 00:24:31.036
relations and what that would bring after normalisation,

244
00:24:31.036 --> 00:24:38.031
this is the whole range of issues to be discussed and decided,

245
00:24:38.031 --> 00:24:41.526
and those decisions should be of a practical nature.

246
00:24:41.526 --> 00:24:46.273
Say, the Prime Minister and I have spoken a lot,

247
00:24:46.273 --> 00:24:51.020
and we said all the right things, in my opinion,

248
00:24:51.020 --> 00:24:56.261
about creating an atmosphere of trust and friendship 

249
00:24:56.261 --> 00:24:59.425
between our nations and peoples.

250
00:24:59.425 --> 00:25:06.447
Our agreements on creating the conditions for preparing a peace treaty 

251
00:25:06.447 --> 00:25:09.512
should be rooted in this trust.

252
00:25:09.512 --> 00:25:12.874
This may be achieved, for example,

253
00:25:12.874 --> 00:25:18.412
by large-scale economic activities that will also cover 

254
00:25:18.412 --> 00:25:25.236
the Kuril Islands. It may be achieved by solving purely humanitarian 

255
00:25:25.236 --> 00:25:32.158
issues, for instance, unhindered visa-free travel by former residents 

256
00:25:32.158 --> 00:25:38.784
of the Southern Kuril Islands to where they used to live: visiting 

257
00:25:38.784 --> 00:25:42.344
cemeteries, native places and so on.

258
00:25:42.344 --> 00:25:48.475
This is the large range of issues we have to discuss and make 

259
00:25:48.475 --> 00:25:51.540
a decision on each one of them.

260
00:25:51.540 --> 00:25:57.671
Look, after the resumption of the negotiating process in 2000,

261
00:25:57.671 --> 00:26:04.099
we did not refuse to consistently work toward signing this peace 

262
00:26:04.099 --> 00:26:08.206
treaty. However, at some point a few years ago Japan unilaterally 

263
00:26:08.206 --> 00:26:12.073
stopped those talks and broke off contacts with us.

264
00:26:12.073 --> 00:26:15.385
It was not we who broke off contacts with Japan,

265
00:26:15.385 --> 00:26:18.651
it was the Japanese side that broke off contacts with us.

266
00:26:18.651 --> 00:26:20.931
This is my first point.

267
00:26:20.931 --> 00:26:26.977
Secondly, Japan has joined the sanctions against the Russian 

268
00:26:26.977 --> 00:26:33.717
Federation. How are we going to further economic relations on a new 

269
00:26:33.717 --> 00:26:40.557
and much higher basis, at a higher level under the sanctions regime? 

270
00:26:40.557 --> 00:26:47.495
I will not offer my thoughts on what Japan could and should have done,

271
00:26:47.495 --> 00:26:52.253
this is none of my business, it is the business 

272
00:26:52.253 --> 00:26:54.929
of the Japanese leadership.

273
00:26:54.929 --> 00:27:01.273
But we should understand how practicable all our agreements are 

274
00:27:01.273 --> 00:27:07.022
as a whole given the allied obligations Japan has assumed,

275
00:27:07.022 --> 00:27:12.572
how much independence there is in making those decision,

276
00:27:12.572 --> 00:27:19.679
and what we can hope for, what we can ultimately arrive at.

277
00:27:19.679 --> 00:27:28.111
These are not simple matters, and even despite the absolutely obvious 

278
00:27:28.111 --> 00:27:34.253
and positive preconditions you have just mentioned,

279
00:27:34.253 --> 00:27:42.805
and they really do exist, can we say with full confidence that we will 

280
00:27:42.805 --> 00:27:48.828
reach a final agreement right away? I do not know;

281
00:27:48.828 --> 00:27:56.416
this is a question that needs thorough discussing, even though,

282
00:27:56.416 --> 00:28:03.643
let me reiterate, we are sincerely committed to this result.

283
00:28:03.643 --> 00:28:09.907
Mr Abe keeps saying that it is essential to develop 

284
00:28:09.907 --> 00:28:12.677
dialogue with Mr Putin.

285
00:28:12.677 --> 00:28:20.988
For example, you have just mentioned unimpeded travel so that former 

286
00:28:20.988 --> 00:28:27.131
Japanese residents of the islands could visit them,

287
00:28:27.131 --> 00:28:31.347
and also businesspeople, tourists –

288
00:28:31.347 --> 00:28:38.935
to make those relations more free, and on this basis, probably,

289
00:28:38.935 --> 00:28:43.392
to develop joint economic activities.

290
00:28:43.392 --> 00:28:50.137
This will definitely be connected with progress towards 

291
00:28:50.137 --> 00:28:53.332
a peace treaty, don’t you think?

292
00:28:53.332 --> 00:28:59.147
Yes. As regards humanitarian issues and how to handle them,

293
00:28:59.147 --> 00:29:03.188
that was the Prime Minister's initiative.

294
00:29:03.188 --> 00:29:09.692
He brought the matter up at our last meeting in Lima and asked me 

295
00:29:09.692 --> 00:29:16.197
straightforwardly whether we would agree to let Japanese citizens 

296
00:29:16.197 --> 00:29:22.209
travel on a visa-free basis, resolve the issue in such a way 

297
00:29:22.209 --> 00:29:26.546
as to enable them to visit the South Kurils,

298
00:29:26.546 --> 00:29:33.247
visit their native areas. I said at once that it was quite possible.

299
00:29:33.247 --> 00:29:38.865
Our foreign ministries will simply need to sort out some 

300
00:29:38.865 --> 00:29:44.877
purely technical matters. I see no political restraints here.

301
00:29:44.877 --> 00:29:50.199
The same applies to economic matters. We, on our part,

302
00:29:50.199 --> 00:29:52.654
are ready. However, let me repeat once again,

303
00:29:52.654 --> 00:29:55.099
given that Japan has joined the anti-Russian sanctions,

304
00:29:55.099 --> 00:29:58.097
how ready is Japan and how can it do that without breaching its 

305
00:29:58.097 --> 00:30:03.335
commitments to its allies? We do not know the answer.

306
00:30:03.335 --> 00:30:06.794
Only Japan itself knows the answer.

307
00:30:06.794 --> 00:30:10.112
However, we need to understand it, to get a clear and precise picture,

308
00:30:10.112 --> 00:30:15.555
and to have some guarantees both now and in the future.

309
00:30:15.555 --> 00:30:19.414
Here is an example from another region.

310
00:30:19.414 --> 00:30:22.529
We negotiated the construction of a gas pipeline system along 

311
00:30:22.529 --> 00:30:24.531
the bottom of the Black Sea to Bulgaria.

312
00:30:24.531 --> 00:30:29.388
We signed certain treaties of a technical nature,

313
00:30:29.388 --> 00:30:33.155
contracts for laying the gas pipeline.

314
00:30:33.155 --> 00:30:35.661
And then Bulgaria created such conditions that the project's 

315
00:30:35.661 --> 00:30:38.936
implementation became impossible,

316
00:30:38.936 --> 00:30:41.695
which was obviously against its own national interests.

317
00:30:41.695 --> 00:30:44.205
The former Bulgarian leadership was, in fact,

318
00:30:44.205 --> 00:30:47.584
aware of that and acknowledged it.

319
00:30:47.584 --> 00:30:50.231
But we trusted them when we were launching that project.

320
00:30:50.231 --> 00:30:53.496
Finally, when it became clear that Bulgaria would reject the project 

321
00:30:53.496 --> 00:30:56.575
and that there was no opportunity for us to implement it,

322
00:30:56.575 --> 00:30:59.666
we were forced to scrap it too.

323
00:30:59.666 --> 00:31:03.854
We sustained losses amounting to millions,

324
00:31:03.854 --> 00:31:10.934
several million dollars. We would not want to get into such situations.

325
00:31:10.934 --> 00:31:16.916
I do not want to speak about our cooperation with Japan now.

326
00:31:16.916 --> 00:31:21.503
Thank God, we have had no such problems there.

327
00:31:21.503 --> 00:31:25.990
Nor would we want any to arise in the future.

328
00:31:25.990 --> 00:31:30.876
Therefore, everything needs to be pre-calculated,

329
00:31:30.876 --> 00:31:33.383
and we need to agree upon everything in advance.

330
00:31:33.383 --> 00:31:36.744
And not just agree, but shape our agreements into legally binding 

331
00:31:36.744 --> 00:31:39.991
documents guaranteeing the implementation of our mutual commitments.

332
00:31:39.991 --> 00:31:44.473
You pointed out once that the judo spirit should be used to resolve 

333
00:31:44.473 --> 00:31:46.876
the territorial problem.

334
00:31:46.876 --> 00:31:53.583
If we go back to that analogy, is the match still ongoing? That is,

335
00:31:53.583 --> 00:31:59.189
let us say, the Olympic regulations allow for competing 

336
00:31:59.189 --> 00:32:01.392
only for five minutes.

337
00:32:01.392 --> 00:32:08.399
Are we still within the five minutes? How long is it before the match 

338
00:32:08.399 --> 00:32:12.704
ends? Or are we already playing extra time?

339
00:32:12.704 --> 00:32:18.010
No, look, as I said earlier, we were in negotiations,

340
00:32:18.010 --> 00:32:23.516
but then the Japanese side suspended them unilaterally.

341
00:32:23.516 --> 00:32:28.021
Now, at the request of our Japanese partners,

342
00:32:28.021 --> 00:32:30.924
we have reopened these talks.

343
00:32:30.924 --> 00:32:35.632
What command is given in this case in judo? You probably know better 

344
00:32:35.632 --> 00:32:40.541
than I do: Yoshi (continue). So we will continue.

345
00:32:40.541 --> 00:32:47.454
So it appears that this command reflects the coinciding will of both 

346
00:32:47.454 --> 00:32:49.922
parties is to continue? In other words,

347
00:32:49.922 --> 00:32:54.995
there is another path that has not been trailed before the match is 

348
00:32:54.995 --> 00:32:58.212
over, and we are unable to say how much of that path is 

349
00:32:58.212 --> 00:33:00.307
still left. Is that how you see things?

350
00:33:00.307 --> 00:33:07.339
Yes, I believe there are a lot of questions today that require expert 

351
00:33:07.339 --> 00:33:14.271
analysis by various agencies: political agencies, foreign ministries,

352
00:33:14.271 --> 00:33:18.289
economic agencies and security agencies.

353
00:33:18.289 --> 00:33:24.517
We need to assess everything and understand what we can agree 

354
00:33:24.517 --> 00:33:31.549
on and what the implications will be both for Japan and for Russia so 

355
00:33:31.549 --> 00:33:37.376
that both the Russian people and the Japanese people come 

356
00:33:37.376 --> 00:33:43.905
to the conclusion that these compromise solutions are acceptable 

357
00:33:43.905 --> 00:33:47.522
and are in our countries’ interests.

358
00:33:47.522 --> 00:33:54.554
Does Russia believe it has no other issues with Japan except this one?

359
00:33:54.554 --> 00:33:57.467
Could you repeat that please?

360
00:33:57.467 --> 00:34:03.394
Does Russia have no other territorial disputes except this 

361
00:34:03.394 --> 00:34:05.303
problem with Japan?

362
00:34:05.303 --> 00:34:10.325
We believe we have no territorial problems at all.

363
00:34:10.325 --> 00:34:12.838
It is only Japan that believes it has territorial problems with Russia.

364
00:34:12.838 --> 00:34:16.635
We are ready to talk about this.

365
00:34:16.635 --> 00:34:31.103
But, as we see it, the exchange continues at a high level,

366
00:34:31.103 --> 00:34:37.862
and a new approach is being sought.

367
00:34:37.862 --> 00:34:46.840
The Japanese Prime Minister speaks about a new approach,

368
00:34:46.840 --> 00:34:52.240
and there has been some progress in this respect.

369
00:34:52.240 --> 00:35:00.106
However, judging by what you have said,

370
00:35:00.106 --> 00:35:06.940
that is not how things stand and there has been no progress yet? That 

371
00:35:06.940 --> 00:35:09.892
is the impression I am getting. Am I wrong?

372
00:35:09.892 --> 00:35:16.986
Yes and no. There is progress in the sense that the Prime Minister has 

373
00:35:16.986 --> 00:35:20.084
proposed, outlined, as it were,

374
00:35:20.084 --> 00:35:26.579
directions for movement toward a peace treaty and the resolution 

375
00:35:26.579 --> 00:35:30.776
of issues related to territorial problems.

376
00:35:30.776 --> 00:35:35.573
Now, what did he propose? He proposed promoting 

377
00:35:35.573 --> 00:35:39.570
an environment of trust and cooperation.

378
00:35:39.570 --> 00:35:46.165
I believe it is even hard to imagine that it can be any different,

379
00:35:46.165 --> 00:35:52.760
that we can agree to sign the documents that we are talking about 

380
00:35:52.760 --> 00:35:55.736
without trusting each other or without cooperation.

381
00:35:55.736 --> 00:35:57.893
That is simply impossible even to imagine.

382
00:35:57.893 --> 00:36:00.049
Therefore, we agree with this and in this respect,

383
00:36:00.049 --> 00:36:03.327
certainly, there is progress.

384
00:36:03.327 --> 00:36:07.985
For example, the Prime Minister proposed advancing to a new level 

385
00:36:07.985 --> 00:36:14.653
of economic engagement, putting forward eight lines of cooperation 

386
00:36:14.653 --> 00:36:16.748
in the most important and interesting areas both for Russia 

387
00:36:16.748 --> 00:36:23.878
and for Japan. The Prime Minister also highlighted the need to address 

388
00:36:23.878 --> 00:36:26.689
general humanitarian issues.

389
00:36:26.689 --> 00:36:33.818
We already mentioned one of these issues: visa-free travel by Japanese 

390
00:36:33.818 --> 00:36:37.433
citizens to the South Kuril Islands.

391
00:36:37.433 --> 00:36:41.450
There are also other areas. For example,

392
00:36:41.450 --> 00:36:45.165
culture. This is extremely important.

393
00:36:45.165 --> 00:36:50.587
We keep revisiting sport, judo, because I practice it,

394
00:36:50.587 --> 00:36:54.905
but other than that, there is also culture.

395
00:36:54.905 --> 00:37:00.528
Every year events that are in some way or other related 

396
00:37:00.528 --> 00:37:03.540
to Russia take place in Japan.

397
00:37:03.540 --> 00:37:10.670
Next year, we are going to hold a series of events there that we would 

398
00:37:10.670 --> 00:37:13.581
like to call Russian Seasons.

399
00:37:13.581 --> 00:37:20.510
Over 40 different activities – and what is more, in different cities.

400
00:37:20.510 --> 00:37:23.197
I assure you that interest in Japanese culture in Russia is just 

401
00:37:23.197 --> 00:37:28.037
as strong as interest in Russian culture in Japan.

402
00:37:28.037 --> 00:37:31.155
It is simply that we treat Japanese history,

403
00:37:31.155 --> 00:37:34.431
the history of the Japanese people and its unique culture with greater 

404
00:37:34.431 --> 00:37:38.331
respect and interest. This generates enormous interest in Russia!

405
00:37:38.331 --> 00:37:44.082
All of this, if we do it, if we work to achieve all this,

406
00:37:44.082 --> 00:37:50.034
we can and should talk about joint efforts toward ensuring 

407
00:37:50.034 --> 00:37:55.382
international security, and not only in the Far East.

408
00:37:55.382 --> 00:37:58.812
Are we not concerned, for example,

409
00:37:58.812 --> 00:38:05.874
by the growing danger related to the proliferation of weapons of mass 

410
00:38:05.874 --> 00:38:12.835
destruction and missile technology? All of this poses a clear threat 

411
00:38:12.835 --> 00:38:15.660
to the world, to the region.

412
00:38:15.660 --> 00:38:21.310
However, we have obvious points of convergence that are 

413
00:38:21.310 --> 00:38:23.832
related to our interests.

414
00:38:23.832 --> 00:38:28.129
If we act together along these lines, we will create conditions,

415
00:38:28.129 --> 00:38:31.398
the conditions for trust that Mr Abe speaks about,

416
00:38:31.398 --> 00:38:38.067
so as to take another step and conclude a peace treaty on certain 

417
00:38:38.067 --> 00:38:42.520
terms. However, first, it is essential to cover this part of the way 

418
00:38:42.520 --> 00:38:46.283
and then agree on the terms for signing a peace treaty.

419
00:38:46.283 --> 00:38:54.903
Both are challenging tasks but they are feasible.

420
00:38:54.903 --> 00:39:01.951
Mr President, you have just mentioned Mr Abe’s eight-point plan.

421
00:39:01.951 --> 00:39:09.660
You yourself said that this is indeed the only realistic way for such 

422
00:39:09.660 --> 00:39:14.946
cooperation, a way towards solving the problems.

423
00:39:14.946 --> 00:39:22.325
Do you think the implementation of this plan is one of the crucial 

424
00:39:22.325 --> 00:39:28.051
conditions for reaching agreement on a peace treaty?

425
00:39:28.051 --> 00:39:33.668
You know, this is not a condition but the creation 

426
00:39:33.668 --> 00:39:41.091
of a necessary atmosphere.

427
00:39:41.091 --> 00:39:48.042
We conducted talks on border issues with our friends in the People’s 

428
00:39:48.042 --> 00:39:51.165
Republic of China for 40 years.

429
00:39:51.165 --> 00:39:56.705
There were also issues related to specific territories.

430
00:39:56.705 --> 00:40:02.851
Now we characterise Russian-Chinese relations as a strategic 

431
00:40:02.851 --> 00:40:07.888
partnership, even a special strategic partnership.

432
00:40:07.888 --> 00:40:13.730
We have never had such a level of trust with China before.

433
00:40:13.730 --> 00:40:20.480
China is our major trade and economic partner among foreign states.

434
00:40:20.480 --> 00:40:24.711
We implement joint multi-billion projects.

435
00:40:24.711 --> 00:40:31.864
We cooperate not only within the UN Security Council, which is logical,

436
00:40:31.864 --> 00:40:38.512
as both China and Russia are permanent members of the UN Security 

437
00:40:38.512 --> 00:40:45.463
Council, but also within such regional organisations as the Shanghai 

438
00:40:45.463 --> 00:40:48.687
Cooperation Organisation, BRICS,

439
00:40:48.687 --> 00:40:55.940
etc. Now we are talking about concluding a free trade agreement between 

440
00:40:55.940 --> 00:41:01.179
the Eurasian Economic Council, recently established 

441
00:41:01.179 --> 00:41:04.805
in the post-Soviet space, and China.

442
00:41:04.805 --> 00:41:11.253
A similar agreement was concluded a short time ago with Vietnam.

443
00:41:11.253 --> 00:41:17.196
Then, we will coordinate, at least we are ready to do this,

444
00:41:17.196 --> 00:41:23.241
the Chinese concept of the Silk Road Economic Belt with our 

445
00:41:23.241 --> 00:41:26.867
newly-created regional organisation.

446
00:41:26.867 --> 00:41:30.292
So, do you understand how diverse,

447
00:41:30.292 --> 00:41:37.344
multi-faceted and deep Russian-Chinese ties have become over the last 

448
00:41:37.344 --> 00:41:42.583
couple of decades? And we resolved the border issue.

449
00:41:42.583 --> 00:41:46.411
This did not cause any major problems,

450
00:41:46.411 --> 00:41:52.153
if there were any in China and Russia in this connection,

451
00:41:52.153 --> 00:41:55.880
though we both made some compromises.

452
00:41:55.880 --> 00:42:04.660
But these were compromises between friendly countries.

453
00:42:04.660 --> 00:42:11.485
I think it is almost impossible to achieve such compromise in other 

454
00:42:11.485 --> 00:42:16.705
ways. I think Mr Abe’s proposal may be the only way 

455
00:42:16.705 --> 00:42:19.525
to achieving our goal.

456
00:42:19.525 --> 00:42:26.263
You speak about resolving border issues with China and a very high 

457
00:42:26.263 --> 00:42:28.878
level of trust with China.

458
00:42:28.878 --> 00:42:34.509
However, the relations with Japan have not reached such 

459
00:42:34.509 --> 00:42:37.627
a level. Is that what you mean?

460
00:42:37.627 --> 00:42:43.861
Look, I have just said we have the highest bilateral turnover 

461
00:42:43.861 --> 00:42:47.984
and continue liberalising our trade ties,

462
00:42:47.984 --> 00:42:54.622
as you know. However, Japan imposed economic sanctions against us.

463
00:42:54.622 --> 00:43:05.876
Do you see the difference? Why? Due to the events in Ukraine 

464
00:43:05.876 --> 00:43:12.899
or in Syria? However, Japan and Russian-Japanese relations are hardly 

465
00:43:12.899 --> 00:43:17.413
related to the events in Syria or in Ukraine.

466
00:43:17.413 --> 00:43:22.129
Therefore, Japan has some alliance obligations.

467
00:43:22.129 --> 00:43:28.650
We treat them with respect, but we need to understand the degree 

468
00:43:28.650 --> 00:43:34.068
of Japan’s freedom and what steps it is ready to take.

469
00:43:34.068 --> 00:43:39.686
We should look into this, as these are not minor issues.

470
00:43:39.686 --> 00:43:46.207
Our foundation for signing a peace agreement will depend on them.

471
00:43:46.207 --> 00:43:52.227
This is the difference between current Russian-Japanese and,

472
00:43:52.227 --> 00:43:56.240
for instance, Russian-Chinese relations.

473
00:43:56.240 --> 00:44:01.758
I do not want to argue; you asked me what the point is.

474
00:44:01.758 --> 00:44:06.373
The point is to create an atmosphere of trust.

475
00:44:06.373 --> 00:44:12.693
Mr President, you mentioned a package of measures that we need.

476
00:44:12.693 --> 00:44:18.512
One of the directions, as you have also mentioned already,

477
00:44:18.512 --> 00:44:23.127
could be economic activity. I share this view.

478
00:44:23.127 --> 00:44:27.040
Regarding this joint economic activity,

479
00:44:27.040 --> 00:44:32.157
how do you envision it? For example, as one option,

480
00:44:32.157 --> 00:44:38.778
and this could be done on all the four islands or on some of them,

481
00:44:38.778 --> 00:44:44.396
a special economic zone could be established where such 

482
00:44:44.396 --> 00:44:46.904
interaction could unfold.

483
00:44:46.904 --> 00:44:53.727
How do you envision this economic cooperation as you speak about it?

484
00:44:53.727 --> 00:44:59.345
You know, first, I believe we should broadly expand our 

485
00:44:59.345 --> 00:45:01.753
trade and economic ties.

486
00:45:01.753 --> 00:45:08.374
In the past two years, sadly, Russian-Japanese trade has declined 

487
00:45:08.374 --> 00:45:15.497
significantly, and we should make every effort to restore the previous 

488
00:45:15.497 --> 00:45:21.116
level (at least restore) and increase it and move on up.

489
00:45:21.116 --> 00:45:27.035
As I said, we are natural partners, because, truth be told,

490
00:45:27.035 --> 00:45:33.857
we are interested in Japan’s involvement in developing Russia’s Far 

491
00:45:33.857 --> 00:45:38.472
East in general and in receiving technologies,

492
00:45:38.472 --> 00:45:43.187
for instance. And there are positive examples –

493
00:45:43.187 --> 00:45:46.947
for instance, in the automobile industry and other spheres,

494
00:45:46.947 --> 00:45:50.812
such as agriculture, where the Japanese are eager to work.

495
00:45:50.812 --> 00:45:54.658
By the way, we hope that Japan opens its markets 

496
00:45:54.658 --> 00:45:57.443
to Russian-made eco-friendly meat products.

497
00:45:57.443 --> 00:45:59.880
We have many interesting avenues in the energy industry.

498
00:45:59.880 --> 00:46:05.728
Nine percent of the natural gas and oil consumed by Japan 

499
00:46:05.728 --> 00:46:12.080
comes from Russia. Another prospect for development comes from 

500
00:46:12.080 --> 00:46:15.723
the Sakhalin-I and Sakhalin-II oil and gas projects,

501
00:46:15.723 --> 00:46:19.500
which are up and running, with some 75 percent of the products 

502
00:46:19.500 --> 00:46:22.327
delivered to Japan under long-term contracts.

503
00:46:22.327 --> 00:46:26.222
There are plans for constructing the third plant.

504
00:46:26.222 --> 00:46:30.044
The work is underway to implement plans to involve Japanese partners 

505
00:46:30.044 --> 00:46:32.255
in projects on the Yamal Peninsula in Russia’s north.

506
00:46:32.255 --> 00:46:35.865
We have plenty to work on that is promising and large-scale.

507
00:46:35.865 --> 00:46:39.728
As regards the southern Kuril Islands,

508
00:46:39.728 --> 00:46:43.488
there are different possible options.

509
00:46:43.488 --> 00:46:49.383
We are ready to consider joint efforts on one, two, three,

510
00:46:49.383 --> 00:46:53.550
or four islands. The terms are important,

511
00:46:53.550 --> 00:46:57.920
but they have to be as liberal as possible.

512
00:46:57.920 --> 00:47:01.758
Prime Minister Abe has mentioned this, and I agree with him.

513
00:47:01.758 --> 00:47:09.085
What will be the legal framework of this activity? Will it be a Russian 

514
00:47:09.085 --> 00:47:15.495
zone or a Japanese zone, or some kind of a joint zone? How can 

515
00:47:15.495 --> 00:47:21.397
the legal framework for this be organised? There could be 

516
00:47:21.397 --> 00:47:26.790
several ways and options. What do you think about it?

517
00:47:26.790 --> 00:47:33.302
I think the Japanese are a very creative and intelligent people.

518
00:47:33.302 --> 00:47:39.102
You have just shown a brilliant example of this approach 

519
00:47:39.102 --> 00:47:45.818
to the discussion by raising the point that economic activity can 

520
00:47:45.818 --> 00:47:49.669
develop on the islands that would be under Japan’s sovereignty.

521
00:47:49.669 --> 00:47:56.299
However, if this occurs from the outset,

522
00:47:56.299 --> 00:47:58.971
no second step is needed and the issue can be considered closed.

523
00:47:58.971 --> 00:48:01.724
That was not the agreement.

524
00:48:01.724 --> 00:48:06.436
We agreed to solve political issues first, fundamentally,

525
00:48:06.436 --> 00:48:11.082
and then the issues related to signing a peace treaty,

526
00:48:11.082 --> 00:48:16.789
or all of this together – but only if we are aware that we will not be 

527
00:48:16.789 --> 00:48:25.434
able to solve the signing of a peace treaty and territorial disputes 

528
00:48:25.434 --> 00:48:33.078
solely by drafting plans for our possible future cooperation.

529
00:48:33.078 --> 00:48:35.906
That is why this is a matter for detailed,

530
00:48:35.906 --> 00:48:49.938
reasonable and substantive professional talks.

531
00:48:49.938 --> 00:48:54.102
As a Japanese, I can say that, of course,

532
00:48:54.102 --> 00:48:59.281
joint activities have obvious advantages for Japan.

533
00:48:59.281 --> 00:49:03.749
And, if some progress is made on that track,

534
00:49:03.749 --> 00:49:09.538
it would be sound to achieve some advancement in solving 

535
00:49:09.538 --> 00:49:11.975
the territorial dispute.

536
00:49:11.975 --> 00:49:18.575
I think many Japanese people harbour such hopes and expectations.

537
00:49:18.575 --> 00:49:25.556
Mr President, you yourself have said that the 1956 Declaration is 

538
00:49:25.556 --> 00:49:32.854
the only legal document signed by our countries that indicates a way 

539
00:49:32.854 --> 00:49:35.815
towards solving the problem.

540
00:49:35.815 --> 00:49:41.738
And the Declaration says that Shikotan and Habomai will 

541
00:49:41.738 --> 00:49:45.651
subsequently be transferred to Japan.

542
00:49:45.651 --> 00:49:52.632
You have just told us that there may be different interpretations,

543
00:49:52.632 --> 00:49:59.612
in particular, regarding under whose sovereignty this may be done.

544
00:49:59.612 --> 00:50:05.535
I think if joint activities do yield fruit, if it works,

545
00:50:05.535 --> 00:50:12.409
then to what extent could the transfer procedure issue be solved,

546
00:50:12.409 --> 00:50:19.813
for example, under whose sovereignty could the islands be handed over?

547
00:50:19.813 --> 00:50:23.464
It is too early to speak about this.

548
00:50:23.464 --> 00:50:28.838
You keep referring to the 1956 Declaration but Japan 

549
00:50:28.838 --> 00:50:30.968
refused to fulfil it.

550
00:50:30.968 --> 00:50:38.066
If the Prime Minister and Japan’s Cabinet of Ministers return to this 

551
00:50:38.066 --> 00:50:40.906
wording, we will discuss it.

552
00:50:40.906 --> 00:50:44.759
If you carefully read the declaration 

553
00:50:44.759 --> 00:50:50.844
(its Article 9), you will see that it mentions the transfer 

554
00:50:50.844 --> 00:50:56.928
of the islands but does not specify under whose sovereignty 

555
00:50:56.928 --> 00:51:03.418
or on what terms. There are too many questions about this issue.

556
00:51:03.418 --> 00:51:08.387
Even the 1956 Declaration requires a lot of work.

557
00:51:08.387 --> 00:51:11.822
And if our Japanese partners go beyond its framework,

558
00:51:11.822 --> 00:51:16.314
this is altogether a separate matter.

559
00:51:16.314 --> 00:51:22.155
However, to make progress toward resolving such urgent and long overdue 

560
00:51:22.155 --> 00:51:27.323
issues, I would agree with the Prime Minister that we need to create 

561
00:51:27.323 --> 00:51:33.402
an atmosphere of trust, friendship and cooperation between our 

562
00:51:33.402 --> 00:51:36.163
countries. I believe this is exactly where we should start.

563
00:51:36.163 --> 00:51:39.016
Concerning the four islands.

564
00:51:39.016 --> 00:51:55.253
Mr Abe says our relations have recently improved in many ways.

565
00:51:55.253 --> 00:52:02.115
Regarding the peace treaty talks in the context of the four islands,

566
00:52:02.115 --> 00:52:07.459
as long as you both hold the offices of Prime Minister and President,

567
00:52:07.459 --> 00:52:17.920
will you be trying to lay the groundwork for resolving the matter? We 

568
00:52:17.920 --> 00:52:25.535
have already said that both you and Mr Abe enjoy great public support.

569
00:52:25.535 --> 00:52:44.143
Are you committed to resolving this problem?

570
00:52:44.143 --> 00:52:48.670
Of course, we are working toward this.

571
00:52:48.670 --> 00:52:54.236
We are discussing this sincerely because we are interested in resolving 

572
00:52:54.236 --> 00:52:59.954
all the problems of the past in our relations with Japan.

573
00:52:59.954 --> 00:53:04.569
Nothing should prevent us from moving forward.

574
00:53:04.569 --> 00:53:06.321
This is one of our national priorities.

575
00:53:06.321 --> 00:53:10.796
This is what we want, and it is in our interest.

576
00:53:10.796 --> 00:53:16.556
That said, I believe that fixing some deadline that is limited 

577
00:53:16.556 --> 00:53:20.412
by my term in office or the Prime Minister’s would be unprofessional 

578
00:53:20.412 --> 00:53:26.656
because we should talk not about our terms in power but about 

579
00:53:26.656 --> 00:53:32.800
the quality of potential agreements. This is the first point.

580
00:53:32.800 --> 00:53:37.130
Secondly, as I have already mentioned, yes,

581
00:53:37.130 --> 00:53:41.864
trust in the President is quite high in Russia,

582
00:53:41.864 --> 00:53:46.110
as it is for the Prime Minister in Japan, but I believe, for one,

583
00:53:46.110 --> 00:53:53.076
as I have already said, that I have no right to abuse this trust.

584
00:53:53.076 --> 00:53:58.723
Needless to say, each of us would like to achieve major 

585
00:53:58.723 --> 00:54:05.580
results in our work. If we achieve success… I know his position: he 

586
00:54:05.580 --> 00:54:11.328
wants to complete this process during his term in office,

587
00:54:11.328 --> 00:54:16.269
and I would also like to achieve some meaningful,

588
00:54:16.269 --> 00:54:22.924
significant results and not only in relations with Japan but also 

589
00:54:22.924 --> 00:54:28.269
in other areas, such as domestic policy, the economy,

590
00:54:28.269 --> 00:54:30.890
and international affairs.

591
00:54:30.890 --> 00:54:33.285
Naturally, I will be working toward this,

592
00:54:33.285 --> 00:54:36.240
but I still do not know if I will succeed.

593
00:54:36.240 --> 00:54:44.576
Thank you. I apologise but I would like you to give an earnest answer 

594
00:54:44.576 --> 00:54:51.484
now. Do you perceive Mr Abe as a good partner and as your 

595
00:54:51.484 --> 00:54:58.571
friend? What is your opinion of him?

596
00:54:58.571 --> 00:55:04.168
I believe that the Prime Minister is, first of all,

597
00:55:04.168 --> 00:55:09.985
a consummate professional. This is perfectly obvious.

598
00:55:09.985 --> 00:55:14.266
He clearly loves his country very much,

599
00:55:14.266 --> 00:55:20.741
is motivated to defend its interests and is very pragmatic 

600
00:55:20.741 --> 00:55:23.375
in how he goes about it.

601
00:55:23.375 --> 00:55:27.107
In my view, he is a very reliable,

602
00:55:27.107 --> 00:55:32.924
honourable partner with whom it is possible to agree 

603
00:55:32.924 --> 00:55:36.766
on highly serious, specific issues.

604
00:55:36.766 --> 00:55:44.229
As such, I intend to develop relations with the Prime Minister into 

605
00:55:44.229 --> 00:55:50.156
the future, including with respect to the most urgent 

606
00:55:50.156 --> 00:55:54.546
and important issues of our cooperation.

607
00:55:54.546 --> 00:56:01.351
Mr President, I would like to ask one more question about our 

608
00:56:01.351 --> 00:56:06.509
relations. There is a famous saying in Russia –

609
00:56:06.509 --> 00:56:09.911
“slow and steady wins the race.

610
00:56:09.911 --> 00:56:14.631
” The part about winning the race is clear,

611
00:56:14.631 --> 00:56:18.692
it means strengthening our relations,

612
00:56:18.692 --> 00:56:23.740
their progress. But what does the first part –

613
00:56:23.740 --> 00:56:29.259
slow and steady – mean? How can we define it?

614
00:56:29.259 --> 00:56:34.396
If you want to understand the meaning of this proverb,

615
00:56:34.396 --> 00:56:41.943
it urges one not to rush in making important decisions.

616
00:56:41.943 --> 00:56:53.935
Acting carefully and slowly, it is possible to achieve a better result.

617
00:56:53.935 --> 00:56:58.874
This proverb does not call for sabotaging a goal,

618
00:56:58.874 --> 00:57:08.160
it does not call for pretending instead of taking real 

619
00:57:08.160 --> 00:57:14.647
steps to reach a goal.

620
00:57:14.647 --> 00:57:21.929
No, this is a call for high-quality work without rushing about hastily.

621
00:57:21.929 --> 00:57:28.954
Thank you. Now I would like to digress from Russian-Japanese relations 

622
00:57:28.954 --> 00:57:36.270
and ask different questions. Relations with the United States.

623
00:57:36.270 --> 00:57:41.344
Mr Trump is going to be the next President,

624
00:57:41.344 --> 00:57:49.485
and you already had a telephone conversation with him on November 14.

625
00:57:49.485 --> 00:57:56.447
What are your impressions of him? What do you think of him?

626
00:57:56.447 --> 00:58:00.597
I only had a telephone conversation with him,

627
00:58:00.597 --> 00:58:04.344
whereas Mr Abe met with him in person.

628
00:58:04.344 --> 00:58:11.247
So, you should ask the Japanese Prime Minister what impression he has 

629
00:58:11.247 --> 00:58:14.896
about the newly elected US President.

630
00:58:14.896 --> 00:58:21.503
But it is well known, widely known that the US President-elect has 

631
00:58:21.503 --> 00:58:28.209
publicly spoken in favour of normalising Russian-American relations.

632
00:58:28.209 --> 00:58:30.872
We cannot but support this.

633
00:58:30.872 --> 00:58:36.493
Of course, we understand that it will not be an easy job,

634
00:58:36.493 --> 00:58:42.114
taking into account the degree to which Russian-American 

635
00:58:42.114 --> 00:58:47.075
relations have degraded. But we are ready to cover our part of the way.

636
00:58:47.075 --> 00:58:54.433
In your Address, you said that you are ready to establish relations 

637
00:58:54.433 --> 00:59:00.384
and develop cooperation with the new US Administration.

638
00:59:00.384 --> 00:59:05.903
In which fields, in which directions are you ready 

639
00:59:05.903 --> 00:59:11.718
to cooperate with the United States?

640
00:59:11.718 --> 00:59:15.460
In the area of international security,

641
00:59:15.460 --> 00:59:19.152
taking into account that the United States and Russia are the largest 

642
00:59:19.152 --> 00:59:24.977
nuclear powers: We are ready to jointly work to strengthen 

643
00:59:24.977 --> 00:59:29.814
the non-proliferation regime for weapons of mass 

644
00:59:29.814 --> 00:59:33.763
destruction and their means of delivery.

645
00:59:33.763 --> 00:59:39.588
We are ready to work together, and much closer than before,

646
00:59:39.588 --> 00:59:44.148
on the problem of fighting terrorism, international terrorism,

647
00:59:44.148 --> 00:59:48.696
and here we certainly have vast opportunities.

648
00:59:48.696 --> 00:59:52.551
If we had joined efforts some time ago,

649
00:59:52.551 --> 00:59:55.862
we could have avoided many problems the world is facing now,

650
00:59:55.862 --> 01:00:01.532
I believe. At any rate, those problems would not be so acute,

651
01:00:01.532 --> 01:00:08.430
with numerous terror attacks and victims of those attacks in many areas 

652
01:00:08.430 --> 01:00:13.386
of the world – in Europe and in the United States.

653
01:00:13.386 --> 01:00:18.129
We also never would have had such an urgent problem with refugees,

654
01:00:18.129 --> 01:00:20.611
I have no doubt about it.

655
01:00:20.611 --> 01:00:24.582
Then there is another area of activity –

656
01:00:24.582 --> 01:00:28.941
economic interaction between Russia and the United States.

657
01:00:28.941 --> 01:00:36.930
Right now, for example, it has already been made public that we signed 

658
01:00:36.930 --> 01:00:44.470
a large deal to privatise one of our biggest oil and gas companies,

659
01:00:44.470 --> 01:00:47.058
Rosneft, which sold 19.

660
01:00:47.058 --> 01:00:54.484
5 percent of its shares to a consortium of Qatar’s sovereign fund 

661
01:00:54.484 --> 01:00:59.998
and Glencore, one of the world’s largest traders.

662
01:00:59.998 --> 01:01:06.042
We know for sure that US companies, as well as Japanese ones,

663
01:01:06.042 --> 01:01:11.203
by the way, are keenly interested in cooperation in Russia’s oil 

664
01:01:11.203 --> 01:01:14.179
and gas sector, in joint work.

665
01:01:14.179 --> 01:01:18.268
This has immense significance for world energy markets and will 

666
01:01:18.268 --> 01:01:22.244
directly affect the whole world economy.

667
01:01:22.244 --> 01:01:27.711
We believe that we could do a great deal to neutralise 

668
01:01:27.711 --> 01:01:33.409
regional conflicts. Also, for example,

669
01:01:33.409 --> 01:01:39.840
to continue joint activities in space,

670
01:01:39.840 --> 01:01:44.508
for peaceful civilian purposes.

671
01:01:44.508 --> 01:01:51.525
By the way, Japan is also known to be actively engaged in manned space 

672
01:01:51.525 --> 01:01:56.565
flights as part of the International Space Station.

673
01:01:56.565 --> 01:01:59.234
There are many other areas.

674
01:01:59.234 --> 01:02:06.251
And I am confident that each of them is of interest to both the people 

675
01:02:06.251 --> 01:02:09.886
of the United States of America and the Russian people.

676
01:02:09.886 --> 01:02:16.718
All we need is good will, and we have to start working in a way that 

677
01:02:16.718 --> 01:02:19.985
considers each other’s interests.

678
01:02:19.985 --> 01:02:24.143
In my view, this is a mandatory condition.

679
01:02:24.143 --> 01:02:28.695
As far as I understand, the president-elect of the United States is 

680
01:02:28.695 --> 01:02:31.275
ready for such joint work.

681
01:02:31.275 --> 01:02:35.229
We do not know yet what it will be like in actual practice.

682
01:02:35.229 --> 01:02:38.949
We have to wait for him to take office and form his administration.

683
01:02:38.949 --> 01:02:45.828
We have seen very clearly over these past years that there are quite 

684
01:02:45.828 --> 01:02:51.910
a few people who are sceptical, or let us put it another way,

685
01:02:51.910 --> 01:02:58.390
are cautious about the development of Russian-American relations,

686
01:02:58.390 --> 01:03:02.512
but the underlying fundamental interests of the United States 

687
01:03:02.512 --> 01:03:05.587
and Russia demand that our relations be normalised.

688
01:03:05.587 --> 01:03:15.775
Compared to President Obama, I feel you are strongly determined 

689
01:03:15.775 --> 01:03:22.540
to develop relations with the new President.

690
01:03:22.540 --> 01:03:33.030
Do you plan to meet with him in the near future and discuss 

691
01:03:33.030 --> 01:03:36.873
all these issues?

692
01:03:36.873 --> 01:03:41.237
You know, we were also going to develop relations with the current 

693
01:03:41.237 --> 01:03:47.970
administration, but somehow they did not work out well in key areas 

694
01:03:47.970 --> 01:03:51.733
and, I believe, not through our fault.

695
01:03:51.733 --> 01:03:58.466
I will not list all the problems that emerged in the past few years.

696
01:03:58.466 --> 01:04:03.516
Here is an example: while resolving current issues,

697
01:04:03.516 --> 01:04:10.348
our American colleagues made a proposal on the Syrian settlement but 

698
01:04:10.348 --> 01:04:13.551
then suddenly declared at the UN that they were not going 

699
01:04:13.551 --> 01:04:18.864
to discuss anything with us.

700
01:04:18.864 --> 01:04:22.693
It is necessary to understand what people want in one department versus 

701
01:04:22.693 --> 01:04:25.108
another department of the United States.

702
01:04:25.108 --> 01:04:30.584
Do they have a common position? And this happened many 

703
01:04:30.584 --> 01:04:32.624
times on very many areas of our cooperation.

704
01:04:32.624 --> 01:04:36.432
There are also fundamental issues related to what the current leader,

705
01:04:36.432 --> 01:04:38.636
President Obama, said.

706
01:04:38.636 --> 01:04:44.346
I am referring to his idea about American exceptionalism.

707
01:04:44.346 --> 01:04:47.451
I am skeptical about this idea.

708
01:04:47.451 --> 01:04:53.060
No doubt, the United States and the American people are 

709
01:04:53.060 --> 01:04:56.466
a gear country and a great people.

710
01:04:56.466 --> 01:05:00.478
Nobody disputes this, but talking about exceptionalism is way too much,

711
01:05:00.478 --> 01:05:03.906
and this is creating certain problems in relations,

712
01:05:03.906 --> 01:05:07.906
and not only with Russia, as I see it.

713
01:05:07.906 --> 01:05:13.848
As for the President-elect, he has his own views on things,

714
01:05:13.848 --> 01:05:17.071
and this is also fairly natural.

715
01:05:17.071 --> 01:05:23.920
I must admit that we have yet to understand how he will develop his 

716
01:05:23.920 --> 01:05:28.452
idea, his pledge to make America great again,

717
01:05:28.452 --> 01:05:35.200
but I hope this will not hinder the development of our cooperation.

718
01:05:35.200 --> 01:05:41.343
As for meetings, I think the President-elect should be given 

719
01:05:41.343 --> 01:05:47.991
an opportunity to first form his administration and assume office.

720
01:05:47.991 --> 01:05:50.408
Meetings will come next.

721
01:05:50.408 --> 01:05:54.491
We are ready to meet at any time, this is no problem for us,

722
01:05:54.491 --> 01:05:58.560
but I believe we should be patient and wait for the complicated process 

723
01:05:58.560 --> 01:06:01.527
of forming the new administration to be complete.

724
01:06:01.527 --> 01:06:05.795
You have mentioned the economic sanctions.

725
01:06:05.795 --> 01:06:11.584
Of course, this is a very important topic in the relations between 

726
01:06:11.584 --> 01:06:15.551
Russia and the United States.

727
01:06:15.551 --> 01:06:18.536
Do you have any expectations due to the change of administration?

728
01:06:18.536 --> 01:06:24.049
This is not only a matter of relations between Russia 

729
01:06:24.049 --> 01:06:26.295
and the United States.

730
01:06:26.295 --> 01:06:33.442
In my view, any restrictions in the economic sphere that are dictated 

731
01:06:33.442 --> 01:06:38.196
by considerations of political expediency are extremely harmful 

732
01:06:38.196 --> 01:06:41.885
for the world economy as a whole.

733
01:06:41.885 --> 01:06:45.822
This destroys unity and the rules of the game.

734
01:06:45.822 --> 01:06:50.122
We spoke about this only recently in Lima,

735
01:06:50.122 --> 01:06:53.092
within the framework of APEC.

736
01:06:53.092 --> 01:06:57.495
Almost all the leaders represented at APEC 

737
01:06:57.495 --> 01:07:02.103
(the Asia Pacific region), Pacific countries,

738
01:07:02.103 --> 01:07:05.687
spoke about the same thing, namely,

739
01:07:05.687 --> 01:07:09.413
that we are going through a very acute crisis in world trade,

740
01:07:09.413 --> 01:07:11.968
international trade, related, among other things,

741
01:07:11.968 --> 01:07:15.410
to restrictions on the markets of certain countries.

742
01:07:15.410 --> 01:07:18.235
However, this is, among other things,

743
01:07:18.235 --> 01:07:23.121
the result of using political tools in competition or simply 

744
01:07:23.121 --> 01:07:28.204
for achieving political objectives with the help 

745
01:07:28.204 --> 01:07:30.797
of economic restrictions.

746
01:07:30.797 --> 01:07:35.315
This is one of the elements that is destabilising the world economic 

747
01:07:35.315 --> 01:07:39.027
order that was at one time created largely by the United States itself 

748
01:07:39.027 --> 01:07:43.441
at the dawn of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade that was 

749
01:07:43.441 --> 01:07:45.824
later transformed into the World Trade Organisation.

750
01:07:45.824 --> 01:07:50.573
Take the creation of the Pacific partnership 

751
01:07:50.573 --> 01:07:55.217
or the creation of the Atlantic partnership.

752
01:07:55.217 --> 01:08:01.866
We are somewhat concerned because this is being done bypassing 

753
01:08:01.866 --> 01:08:09.253
the World Trade Organisation, since it has proved impossible to reach 

754
01:08:09.253 --> 01:08:14.952
compromise solutions with developing economies within 

755
01:08:14.952 --> 01:08:16.826
the framework of that organisation.

756
01:08:16.826 --> 01:08:22.867
Is that good? Not really, in my opinion.

757
01:08:22.867 --> 01:08:26.529
If the world economy is divided into isolated economic blocs of this 

758
01:08:26.529 --> 01:08:31.192
kind, it will be rather difficult to achieve the same interpretation 

759
01:08:31.192 --> 01:08:34.906
and application of international rules of economic activity 

760
01:08:34.906 --> 01:08:39.290
and world trade. This is why we believe in the universality of these 

761
01:08:39.290 --> 01:08:45.686
rules. And if regional associations are created,

762
01:08:45.686 --> 01:08:51.614
they should work on the basis of WTO norms, on the WTO basis.

763
01:08:51.614 --> 01:08:59.025
This is our premise, but as to how this works out in the near future,

764
01:08:59.025 --> 01:09:02.892
when a new administration is formed,

765
01:09:02.892 --> 01:09:06.578
we are unable to tell at this point. Time will tell.

766
01:09:06.578 --> 01:09:10.195
We need to bring this gradually to a close or we will keep 

767
01:09:10.195 --> 01:09:12.576
talking until morning.

768
01:09:12.576 --> 01:09:15.159
Although I enjoy talking to you,

769
01:09:15.159 --> 01:09:20.579
I probably should not keep you here until morning.

770
01:09:20.579 --> 01:09:24.466
All right. You mentioned China. I would like to go back to this issue.

771
01:09:24.466 --> 01:09:26.090
Please.

772
01:09:26.090 --> 01:09:33.646
You say that your relations are on a very high level both 

773
01:09:33.646 --> 01:09:37.424
economically and politically.

774
01:09:37.424 --> 01:09:42.088
That is correct.

775
01:09:42.088 --> 01:09:48.249
In your Address to the Federal Assembly,

776
01:09:48.249 --> 01:09:54.817
when you mentioned different countries, as far as I remember,

777
01:09:54.817 --> 01:09:58.986
China came first, then India, Japan and only after that 

778
01:09:58.986 --> 01:10:00.791
came the United States.

779
01:10:00.791 --> 01:10:04.333
Do you believe that at present China is Russia’s most important 

780
01:10:04.333 --> 01:10:06.855
partner? Did we understand you correctly?

781
01:10:06.855 --> 01:10:09.396
Absolutely.

782
01:10:09.396 --> 01:10:12.011
Is that really the case?

783
01:10:12.011 --> 01:10:14.626
That is indeed the case.

784
01:10:14.626 --> 01:10:19.855
After all, China is our largest trading partner.

785
01:10:19.855 --> 01:10:23.983
As I said, country-wise, Russia trades the most with China.

786
01:10:23.983 --> 01:10:26.499
That is my first point.

787
01:10:26.499 --> 01:10:31.341
Second, we have wide-ranging joint projects in the nuclear energy 

788
01:10:31.341 --> 01:10:37.606
sphere, logistics, machine building and trade as a whole.

789
01:10:37.606 --> 01:10:44.091
We have good joint projects in the helicopter and aircraft 

790
01:10:44.091 --> 01:10:46.619
manufacturing industry.

791
01:10:46.619 --> 01:10:54.202
We are considering cooperation and are actively cooperating in space.

792
01:10:54.202 --> 01:10:57.610
There are good prospects there.

793
01:10:57.610 --> 01:11:04.204
However, the level of our political trust is also very high.

794
01:11:04.204 --> 01:11:11.239
We have similar positions on major international issues or even,

795
01:11:11.239 --> 01:11:15.855
as diplomats say, our views are identical.

796
01:11:15.855 --> 01:11:22.340
We often have shared positions on key issues of the modern 

797
01:11:22.340 --> 01:11:24.648
international agenda.

798
01:11:24.648 --> 01:11:32.452
We have very close humanitarian contacts, wide-ranging youth exchanges,

799
01:11:32.452 --> 01:11:36.189
educational and regional contacts,

800
01:11:36.189 --> 01:11:40.146
and all of them continue to develop.

801
01:11:40.146 --> 01:11:47.510
We are expanding and improving the infrastructure of our relations.

802
01:11:47.510 --> 01:11:54.874
You must have heard about China’s plans to participate in building 

803
01:11:54.874 --> 01:12:00.479
a high-speed railway line between Moscow and Kazan 

804
01:12:00.479 --> 01:12:04.766
in the Volga region, in central Russia.

805
01:12:04.766 --> 01:12:11.361
And then we plan to extend it to Kazakhstan and on to China.

806
01:12:11.361 --> 01:12:15.757
Under our regional cooperation projects,

807
01:12:15.757 --> 01:12:19.494
we are building roads and bridges.

808
01:12:19.494 --> 01:12:25.649
The scope of regional cooperation is constantly growing.

809
01:12:25.649 --> 01:12:29.167
So, we have every reason to say,

810
01:12:29.167 --> 01:12:33.563
and I note this with great satisfaction,

811
01:12:33.563 --> 01:12:37.118
that a truly friendly relationship has evolved with China,

812
01:12:37.118 --> 01:12:42.682
and in many key areas these relations, without any exaggeration,

813
01:12:42.682 --> 01:12:45.682
have a strategic character.

814
01:12:45.682 --> 01:12:52.460
As we say, the strategic character of privileged partnership.

815
01:12:52.460 --> 01:12:58.572
I would like to go back to the international situation.

816
01:12:58.572 --> 01:13:02.239
There has been a lot of populism,

817
01:13:02.239 --> 01:13:06.350
something you have mentioned as well.

818
01:13:06.350 --> 01:13:13.017
It would be interesting to hear your thoughts on the matter.

819
01:13:13.017 --> 01:13:21.794
What thoughts can there be? Political populism always poses a great 

820
01:13:21.794 --> 01:13:30.958
danger because it disorients people, creates excessive expectations or,

821
01:13:30.958 --> 01:13:40.251
on the contrary, prioritises objectives that are clearly not priorities 

822
01:13:40.251 --> 01:13:46.706
or are simply impossible to achieve.

823
01:13:46.706 --> 01:13:52.775
This work is either useless or harmful,

824
01:13:52.775 --> 01:13:58.157
because there is nothing good about populism.

825
01:13:58.157 --> 01:14:05.629
If you wanted to hear my opinion on this issue, that is what I think.

826
01:14:05.629 --> 01:14:13.209
As a rule, this is done for the sake of political expediency by those 

827
01:14:13.209 --> 01:14:17.433
who do not care about the consequences,

828
01:14:17.433 --> 01:14:21.439
who do not think even one step ahead,

829
01:14:21.439 --> 01:14:29.128
who do not want to think and do not intend to honour their commitments.

830
01:14:29.128 --> 01:14:35.192
I would like to ask another question regarding Russia’s 

831
01:14:35.192 --> 01:14:42.772
domestic situation. Presidential elections are set to be held in 2018.

832
01:14:42.772 --> 01:14:47.537
You enjoy tremendous support among Russians.

833
01:14:47.537 --> 01:14:54.250
How do you think you have managed to secure such a high level 

834
01:14:54.250 --> 01:14:57.831
of support? I would especially like to hear your analysis 

835
01:14:57.831 --> 01:15:00.413
on why young people support you.

836
01:15:00.413 --> 01:15:05.903
Perhaps, you should ask the people who support me.

837
01:15:05.903 --> 01:15:10.403
I think that people are able to see that I am working hard,

838
01:15:10.403 --> 01:15:16.201
that I am striving openly, honestly and sincerely to achieve 

839
01:15:16.201 --> 01:15:19.109
the results the results our country needs.

840
01:15:19.109 --> 01:15:26.051
I think that they are also able to see that not all goes well.

841
01:15:26.051 --> 01:15:30.968
Our people are smart and sharp-sighted.

842
01:15:30.968 --> 01:15:39.669
Yet, I believe that the main thing is to sincerely aspire to achieve 

843
01:15:39.669 --> 01:15:46.099
the maximum, so that the country feels more secure 

844
01:15:46.099 --> 01:15:49.000
and people live better.

845
01:15:49.000 --> 01:15:55.682
That's precisely how I am trying to go about my work.

846
01:15:55.682 --> 01:16:03.248
And I am very grateful to our people who appreciate my work 

847
01:16:03.248 --> 01:16:10.309
and for their support, as without that support it would 

848
01:16:10.309 --> 01:16:15.605
have been impossible to get anything done.

849
01:16:15.605 --> 01:16:24.053
Do you feel that there is someone among the Japanese who you truly 

850
01:16:24.053 --> 01:16:31.254
respect and who has had a real influence on you?

851
01:16:31.254 --> 01:16:34.751
Jigoro Kano, of course.

852
01:16:34.751 --> 01:16:40.662
Do you have this person’s bust or a portrait?

853
01:16:40.662 --> 01:16:46.448
I have several portraits of Jigoro Kano and a bust too,

854
01:16:46.448 --> 01:16:48.657
a very beautiful one.

855
01:16:48.657 --> 01:16:52.549
Unfortunately, I do not have it here,

856
01:16:52.549 --> 01:16:55.916
or I would have shown it to you.

857
01:16:55.916 --> 01:16:59.598
I keep it at home, in my residence,

858
01:16:59.598 --> 01:17:02.228
where I live permanently.

859
01:17:02.228 --> 01:17:08.329
It's a very good, high-quality work by a Russian sculptor,

860
01:17:08.329 --> 01:17:15.483
depicting not just a strong-willed but also thoughtful and kind man.

861
01:17:15.483 --> 01:17:21.374
You have already said that judo is a philosophy as well.

862
01:17:21.374 --> 01:17:25.897
And judging by you that is indeed the case.

863
01:17:25.897 --> 01:17:32.104
(Laughing) It can be seen by judo and by those who love it.

864
01:17:32.104 --> 01:17:37.890
I see. If I may, I would like to ask the last question.

865
01:17:37.890 --> 01:17:41.467
On the eve of your visit to Japan,

866
01:17:41.467 --> 01:17:47.148
perhaps you have some message for the Japanese people.

867
01:17:47.148 --> 01:17:52.197
Do you have any words you would like to address 

868
01:17:52.197 --> 01:17:55.774
to the Japanese before your visit?

869
01:17:55.774 --> 01:18:01.139
I would like to say, you know, that, unfortunately,

870
01:18:01.139 --> 01:18:04.611
we have many unresolved problems.

871
01:18:04.611 --> 01:18:11.449
But a great number of people in Russia know Japan and love Japan,

872
01:18:11.449 --> 01:18:18.076
and I am sure that eventually we will resolve all our problems.

873
01:18:18.076 --> 01:18:21.968
Irrespective of when this may happen,

874
01:18:21.968 --> 01:18:29.897
it would not be an exaggeration to say that today millions of people 

875
01:18:29.897 --> 01:18:33.574
living in Russia and, I am sure,

876
01:18:33.574 --> 01:18:41.387
millions of people living in Japan have an urge to get to know each 

877
01:18:41.387 --> 01:18:47.018
other, cooperate and exchange useful information,

878
01:18:47.018 --> 01:18:53.567
as well as a sincere desire that all problems that still 

879
01:18:53.567 --> 01:18:57.014
remain unresolved be resolved.

880
01:18:57.014 --> 01:19:03.469
As a Japanese citizen, I truly wish that your visit will be a success.

881
01:19:03.469 --> 01:19:08.633
Thank you very much for finding the time for us in your 

882
01:19:08.633 --> 01:19:13.890
very busy schedule. We hope that your visit will be very 

883
01:19:13.890 --> 01:19:17.117
useful for the bilateral relations.

884
01:19:17.117 --> 01:19:18.039
Thank you.