Former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama urged the international community to recognize the Crimean Peninsula part of the Russian Federation. He told about it on Monday, November 7, in an interview to television channel RT.
“I think that historically Crimea was part of Russia. Under Khrushchev he was transferred to Ukraine in full violation of international law. And there was the Crimean problem. Now the international community is to recognize the Peninsula as part of Russia”, — said Hatoyama. In his opinion, if the current Japanese government led by example and recognized the Russian Peninsula that could encourage such a move and the leadership of the European countries.
Hatayama explained that for Japan, it would also be beneficial: “President Putin, in turn, could be more accommodating on the issues of the Kuril Islands. Russia, perhaps, would satisfy Japanese claims and would give all four Islands.” However, as said by the former Prime Minister, this development is not expected.
Crimea became part of Russia in March 2014 after a referendum in which the majority of those who voted supported this decision. Ukraine and the majority of the countries accept the outcome of the plebiscite refused. In Moscow claim that the procedure for accession of the Peninsula in accordance with international law.
Japan, referring to the Treatise on trade and borders of 1855, claims the four southern Islands of the Kuril ridge: Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan and Habomai. Moscow insists that by the end of the Second world war, the southern Kuril Islands became part of the USSR.
The Soviet-Japanese Declaration of 1956 terminated the state of war between the USSR and Japan. In accordance with this document, Moscow agreed to transfer Tokyo Shikotan and Habomai after the conclusion of a bilateral peace Treaty that was not signed for political reasons.
