Four Russian ministers to visit Kurils

By Li Ying

Four members of the Russian Cabinet are planning to visit the South Kuril Islands early next year to investigate ways to develop the region, per a request by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

Sakhalin Region Governor Alexander Khoroshavin stated that the Russian ministers for defense, transport, regional development and education, and science would visit the disputed islands, Japan's Daily Yomiuri newspaper reported Wednesday.

After Medvedev's visit to the Kurils in November, "the situation changed quickly," Khoroshavin said, as quoted by the Daily Yomiuri.

Wan Chengcai, the director of Russian foreign policy studies at the State Council Development Research Center, told the Global Times that a joint project between Russia and Japan would serve both of their interests, economically.

"Russia needs leading technology from Japan to enhance its gas and oil development infrastructure, and Japan needs the energy," Wan said.

According to a report carried by Xinhua News Agency, gas production in Sakhalin, Russia's "Far East," will reach 25.3 billion cubic meters in 2011, and oil production will amount to 14.9 million tons.

Tokyo's obstinacy may have a boomerang effect because the longer the dispute, the fewer chances it will have to get what it wants, the Voice of Russia said Tuesday after Japan rejected a proposal by Medvedev to create a joint economic zone on the Kurils with Russia.

"Tokyo knows that its chances of getting the northern territories back are just reducing as the dispute drags on," Wan added. "However, it helps the Japanese government ease tensions among Japanese citizens."