The approval of a set of Russian constitutional amendments has paved the way for President Vladimir Putin, 67, to stay in power until 2036. He is expected to strengthen his hard-line stance against foreign countries, as he tried to collect affirmative votes by stoking patriotism as a unifying force. It is hard to expect Russia to soften its stance on the northern territories issue.
Asked about how the issue of the northern territories would be affected if the constitutional amendments were realized, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov said in an interview with the Tass news agency, "With Japan, we are not talking about the islands, but about peace treaties and negotiations about cooperation."
It appeared he was trying to warn Japan by indicating that Russia has no intention of making any concession on the territorial issue.
"The inviolability of the border will be strengthened, but the negotiations will continue," Morgulov added, stressing that Russia would continue negotiations with Japan on a peace treaty and economic cooperation on the territories.
-- Japan to 'work tenaciously'
The Japanese government is concerned that the revision of Russia's Constitution could further hamper negotiations on a peace treaty, including the territorial dispute over the four northern islands.
The constitutional amendments include a provision calling for "prohibition of negotiations on territorial cession," and Japan believes that Russia may use the amendment as an excuse to pressure Japan to compromise over the issue.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, speaking about the impact of Russia's constitutional amendment on the territorial issue at a press conference on Thursday, said, "Japan will continue to make persistent efforts under the basic policy of resolving the territorial issue and concluding a peace treaty."
The article on "prohibition of territorial cession negotiations" has an exception for talks on border demarcation, but it is not clear whether the Japan-Russia negotiations are considered subject to this exception.
The Japanese government has confirmed that the two countries would continue talks on the issue during telephone talks between Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Putin in May as well as in foreign ministerial talks, and a senior Japanese Foreign Ministry official said, "Russia has not changed its mind on proceeding with the negotiations."
In Russia, however, there are moves to relate Japan-Russia talks to the amendment. The governor of Sakhalin -- which has de facto jurisdiction over the four islands -- has said, "The constitutional amendments will clarify the attribution issue."
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
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