Fumio Kishida and Japan

Medvedev: The situation no longer allows us to make preparations for Putin visit, said a source inside the government, according to Asahi Shimbun. Medvedev visited Iturup island, called Etorofu island in Japan, on Aug. 22, despite Tokyo repeated requests for him to desist. A planned visit by Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida to Russia later this month, aimed at paving the way for Putin visit, has already been shelved, and the territorial negotiations, which have been a thorn in the two countries’ diplomacy, are again at a stalemate. On the evening of Aug. 22, Kishida summoned Russian Ambassador to Japan Evgeny Afanasiev to the Foreign Ministry and protested Medvedev visit, saying it conflicted with Japan diplomatic stance. We are concerned of repeated unilateral actions by Russia, he said. After the meeting, Kishida told reporters that Medvedev actions would not contribute to improving Japan-Russia relations. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.