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Japan intends to continue attempts to obtain from Russia the southern Kuril Islands, despite amendments to the Russian Constitution and laws that do not allow the exclusion of part of the territory of the state, although for Tokyo to do it will be more difficult, said RIA questioned Japanese officials and experts.

As previously reported, in Russia prepared for consideration by the state Duma amendments to the administrative code, criminal code and criminal procedure code with sanctions for appeals and exclusion areas that have attracted attention from Japan, which is seeking the transfer of the South Kuril Islands, which the Japanese call "Northern territory".

"For the Sino-Russian summit in Singapore in November 2018 reached an agreement to accelerate negotiations on a peace Treaty based on the joint Declaration of Japan and Soviet Union from 1956", — said at the request of RIA Novosti to comment on the situation, the Japanese Senator Muneo Suzuki, known for his efforts to improve relations between the two countries.

According to him, "we need to move forward based on this understanding".

In 1956 the former Soviet Union and Japan signed a Joint Declaration in which Moscow has agreed to consider the possibility of transfer of Japan South Kuril Islands Habomai and Shikotan after the conclusion of a peace Treaty, and the fate of the other two Islands, Kunashir and Iturup, which are claimed by Japan — are not affected.

In Singapore, according to the results of the summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo agreed to accelerate negotiations on a peace Treaty based on the 1956 Declaration.

Commander of the order of "Friendship of Peoples", consultant on Russian-Japanese cooperation Yukio Asazuma drew attention to the fact that the current amendments to the Russian Constitution does not allow concessions of territories that include the words "except for boundary demarcation". Asazuma told RIA Novosti that "it will now serve as the only master key that opens the opportunity to continue the Sino-Russian negotiations".

"the Government of the two countries for the implementation of priority projects can only build a relationship, mutually showing their wisdom. For example, in 12 national projects of the Russian government and the eight-point plan for economic cooperation, Prime Minister Abe, there is a lot of important points. Now both sides need to seriously discuss both the course and agree on concrete cooperation projects", says Asazuma.

The author of several books on Russia, former Professor of Tokyo University of Sofia Toshihiko Ueno has told RIA Novosti that due to amendments to Russian legislation prohibiting the assignment of areas of the country, "in public opinion Japan increased negative mood regarding future Sino-Russian relations, as well as the possibility of concluding a peace Treaty".

On the other hand, the expert said, because the Constitution says that it is not allowed actions on alienation of Russian territory except for the delimitation, demarcation, redemarcation of the state border with neighboring States, the government and the Ministry of foreign Affairs of Japan reacts calmly.

"But I think they understand that the return of the Northern territory will be harder than before," — said the scientist.

Thus, he believes that the inclusion in the Constitution of Russia "prohibition on alienation of the territory" of the country may "have a negative impact on Sino-Russian relations and the negotiation of a peace Treaty".

"If President Putin and the Russian foreign Ministry want to promote the negotiations on the conclusion of a peace Treaty with Japan, they need to make it clear that negotiating a peace Treaty between Japan and Russia are not conducted for the assignment of territories, and to demarcate the Sino-Russian border", — said Toshihiko Ueno.

The Japanese foreign Ministry for its part declined to comment for this reason.

"We always show interest and are closely watching the developments in Russia, including its domestic and foreign policy, but would like to refrain from commenting," said RIA Novosti in the Japanese foreign Ministry.

"anyway, the government of Japan will continue to adhere to the basic policy of resolving the territorial problem and conclude a peace Treaty," promised the Japanese foreign Ministry.

However, as was confirmed by the journalists the head of the international Committee of the Federation Council Konstantin Kosachev, Russia is discussing with Japan the possibility of concluding a peace Treaty, the territorial belonging of the Kuril Islands is not even considered, is the territory of Russia.