TOKYO, June 17 (RIA Novosti) - Japan intends to continue promoting the development of economic and political stability in Ukraine, Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said Tuesday.
“As for the problem in Ukraine, our country has never considered it the proverbial fire across the river. Just as has happened before, in the future, Japan intends to provide support, material and human resources,” the head of the Japanese Foreign Ministry told the press in response to a question about the meeting of OSCE representatives and Japan, reiterating “the importance of the OSCE involvement in the resolution of issues in Ukraine.”
Japan and the OSCE started two-day consultations on the situation in Ukraine and the Korean peninsula in Tokyo on Monday. The sides are also to touch upon economic and energy problems and the issue of women’s empowerment.
In April, Japan decided to provide 500,000 euros for the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine to encourage national dialogue and integration, thereby stabilizing the situation.
Since mid-April, Kiev authorities have been conducting a special military operation in the east of Ukraine to suppress the independence movement. The violence intensified after the People’s Republics of Luhansk and Donetsk declared their independence from Ukraine in May, followed by more bloodshed and victims.
Moscow has called for an immediate stop to this “punitive operation,” repeatedly urging Kiev to lay down its armor and launch a nationwide dialogue in compliance with the April 17 Geneva Accords.
