TOKYO, September 8 (RIA Novosti) – Former Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori is expected to convey the unofficial message of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to the Russian leadership, Japanese media reported on Monday.
During his visit to Moscow, Mori is due to take part in a Russian-Japanese forum hosted in Moscow on September 8-10.
In July, media reports citing Japanese government sources said that a similar message was conveyed to the Russian leadership through diplomatic channels.
In the message, the Japanese prime minister explained the Japanese stance to the Russian leader. Japan, as a G7 member, has been forced into the imposition of anti-Russian sanctions but pays great attention to the development of its relations with Moscow and the resolution of an ongoing territorial dispute.
In early August, Japan’s Foreign Affairs Ministry released a list of 40 individuals and two entities affected by new sanctions against Russia over Ukraine approved by Japan’s Cabinet.
Japan was the last G7 member to apply sanctions against Russia. In March, it ceased talks with Russia on the easing of visa requirements, and denied visas to Russian officials in late April, without making their names public.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has already said it considers the new sanctions unfriendly. Moscow pointed out that the new sanctions set Russia-Japan relations a few steps back, something that Tokyo should take on board.
