Japan reacted to Russia's decision on marine fishing

Japanese fisherman. File photoTOKYO, Jun 8 Following Russia's decision to suspend an intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in the harvesting of marine living resources, Japan intends to continue consultations with Moscow to enable its fishermen to continue their activities, a spokesman for the Japanese Foreign Ministry told NHK. The day before, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Moscow was suspending the agreement, as Tokyo took the line to «freeze» payments due under the agreement, and was also delaying the signing of an annual document on the provision of gratuitous technical assistance to the Sakhalin Region. The Foreign Ministry added that the agreement is suspended until the Japanese side fulfills all its financial obligations. A representative of the Japanese Foreign Ministry called the decision of the Russian side «extremely regrettable.» «As if (the signing of a document on technical assistance to the Sakhalin Oblast — ed.) was a precondition for the implementation of the provisions of the agreement. We intend to continue consultations with the Russian side in order to enable the Japanese side to continue activities under the agreement,» he said. In turn, representatives of the Japanese Fisheries Administration told the TV channel that «the situation is being confirmed through the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.» for a fee.«So we got it»: the Japanese were stunned by Moscow's move towards Tokyo