TOKYO (Sputnik) — Japan joined a number of Western countries that have imposed anti-Russia sanctions in 2014, citing Moscow’s alleged role in the Ukrainian crisis, a role Russia has repeatedly denied.
"We hope that Japan will consider lifting restrictions, individual sanctions introduced against Russia, because it equally negatively impacts the development of our economic cooperation and constrains the buildup of mutual trade," Matvienko said on a visit to Japan.
She added that representatives of both Russian and Japanese leadership had already discussed the issue of the restrictions.
"Taking into consideration the significant growth of economic cooperation, of course, it is necessary to lift all the restrictions and we have said it in [the Japanese] parliament, and today with Economy [Trade and Industry] Minister [Hiroshige Seko] and in the Russian-Japanese parliamentarian forum," Matvienko told reporters.
According to the Russian official, if the two nations continue to create atmosphere of confidence, the issue of sanctions would leave the agenda.
"Our partners understand and I think that time will come, when the restrictions would be lifted. We have spoken about the lack of prospects of the sanctions imposed against the parliamentarians, our arguments are accepted with understanding. I think that this issue will be lifted from the agenda with time," Matvienko added.
