Crimean Platform: Japan will sign a joint summit declaration

Japanese Ambassador to Ukraine Takashi Kurai stated that Japan would sign a joint declaration of the countries participating in the Crimean Platform Summit.

People's Deputy from the "European Solidarity" party, Mustafa Dzhemilev, announced this following a meeting with the ambassador.

"Ambassador Kurai said that for objective reasons, Japanese officials will not be able to participate in the international summit of the Crimean Platform. However, Japan supports the goals and objectives of the platform, so Kurai is authorized to sign a joint declaration following the inaugural summit," the statement said.

With this step, Dzhemilev emphasizes, Japan will officially record support for Ukraine's sovereignty and non-recognition of Russia's rule over Crimea: "The ambassador has assured that Japan strongly supports Ukraine's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity and expresses support for all relevant UN General Assembly resolutions."

In turn, former Foreign Minister Volodymyr Ohryzko said in a comment to Rubryka that Japan's readiness to sign a joint declaration of the Crimean Platform participants was an important signal for Ukraine and Russia that the G-7 countries have a unanimous position on Crimea.

"The statement of the Ambassador of Japan means only one thing: the G-7 countries stand on the principles of international law and not only do not look for ways to avoid responsibility for what happened, but also take it. Thus, Japan officially declares that Crimea is Ukraine and there can be no other interpretations of this," Ohryzko said.

He stressed that the statement of the Ambassador of Japan was important for the country itself, as it was a confirmation and continuation of its position on Kuril Islands, temporarily occupied by Russia: Japan doesn't intend to give up its territories.

In addition, Ohryzko noted that in order to strengthen cooperation with Japan and more actively involve it in the de-occupation of Crimea, Ukraine must "declare its support for its position on the Kuril Islands, make this position common."

The inaugural summit of the Crimean Platform will take place on August 23 in Kyiv. It will be attended by heads of foreign states, governments, heads of parliaments and international organizations, as well as representatives of civil society. The summit is designed to demonstrate the unity of the world community regarding the belonging of Crimea exclusively to Ukraine, to condemn the crimes of the Russian Federation on and around the peninsula, as well as to outline the parameters of the international policy of its de-occupation.