The Summit of the Eight in Denver was the place chosen to launch this effort and Hashimoto wasted no time in making the approach to Yeltsin. Senior Japanese officials say that Hashimoto proposed that any time Yeltsin should be in the Russian Far East, Hashimoto would join him for a casual weekend together away from the formality of visits in Moscow or Tokyo. Japanese officials see this as a critical need to push normalizing relations to the highest level. Yeltsin also came prepared to try to improve ties with Japan. He proposed establishment of a telephone hotline between Moscow and Japan so that the two leaders could more quickly and easily talk to each other.
Russian officials say the telephone links are an important symbol of improving relations.
In addition to the personal approach with Yeltsin, the Japanese know that money talks too. Yastrzhembsky said the two sides also talked about investment in the Kuriles and nearby Sakhalin Island. Leaving the Denver summit, both sides seemed ready to begin. Inc. All Rights Reserved.