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| Promotion
of the land region of adjoining Northern Territories |
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| Kunashiri
Island overlooked from Shiretoko Peak (Rausu Town) |
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Although four islands in the Northern
Territories, the Habomai Islets, and the islands of Shikotan, Kunashiri
and Etorofu, are territories unique to Japan, after they were occupied by
forces of the Soviet Union the day the war ended in August 1945, they have
not yet been returned to Japan.
At the time of Russian President Yeltsin's visit to Japan in
October 1993, these four northern islands were listed by name in the Tokyo
Declaration and the matter of attribution of these territories was brought
up because of their location. Later, at the Japan-Russia summit meeting
in Kawana, Shizuoka Prefecture, held in April 1998, to settle the matter
of attribution of the four islands it was agreed that a clause should be
inserted in the peace treaty based on the Tokyo Declaration and, looking
toward the 21st century, it was agreed that the principle of friendship
cooperation between Russia and Japan should be incorporated. In the Japan-Russia
summit meeting in Moscow in November of the same year, the Moscow Declaration
which incorporated the contents of the Kanawa agreement, including acceleration
of negotiations for the conclusion of a peace treaty were adopted.
At a Japan-Russia summit meeting in Moscow in January 2003,
a Joint Declaration Regarding the Adoption of a Japan-Russia Action Plan
was issued and, based on a number of previous agreements, a decision to
conclude a peace treaty to the fullest extent possible for the normalization
of relations between the two nations was thoroughly checked through energetic
negotiation to solve the attribution matter regarding Etorofu, Kunashiri,
Shikotan islands and the Habomai Islets.
Though the Nemuro area (Nemuro City, Bekkai Town, Nakashibetsu
Town, Shibetsu Town and Rausu Town, consisting of one city and four towns)
is an area contiguous to the Northern Territories which formed and developed
the socio-economic entity of the Northern Territories, because the Northern
Territories issue remains unresolved, desired community development has
been restricted since the war. Moreover, this adjoining area where many
native residents of the Northern Territories live is the birthplace of a
movement for the attribution of the Northern Territories making it important
as a base of this movement.
In order to realize the attribution of the Northern Territories,
the government's basic policy and the earnest desire of Japan, much more
promotion of territory attribution demand activity is needed. At the same
time, it is also important for us to aim at maintenance development of the
vitality of adjoining land areas which is the underlying purpose of the
movement. It is incumbent on us to promote planned, comprehensive measures
for forming this area as a stable community.
For this reason, in 1980 the Related Ministries and Government
Offices Liaison Conference (name changed in April 2003 to Related Government
Ministry Liaison Conference) was established and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure
and Transport Hokkaido office became a window for the government in advancing
the stable promotion of adjoining land region. Furthermore, from 1983 the
following special measures were taken based on the Law Relating to Special
Measures for Promoting the Solution of the Northern Territories Issue to
ensure the promotion of adjoining areas and the stability of the lives of
residents. |
| (1) |
Based on the basic policy defined by the
Prime Minister, the governor of Hokkaido, upon hearing the opinion
of city and town officials of the adjoining land region, draws up
a plan for Promotion of Land Regions Adjoining the Northern Territories
and the Stability of Lives of Residents (Promotion Plan), and oversees
the enforcement of the plan. Since the first term of this promotion
plan began in 1983, the governor of Hokkaido governor has promoted
stable promotion of adjoining land regions following the Promotion
Plan over four terms. From 2003, in the 5th term promotion plan, the
governor has continued promoting various measures. |
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Formation of a traffic network and
high advancement of information technology to be used as community
base |
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Nurturing of safe, green environment
based on natural surroundings |
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Producing revitalized areas rich
in international character and creativity to produce a base
for interchange base with the four islands off Hokkaido |
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Formation of generous, charming
and comfortable social communities |
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Nurturing weak agriculture, forestry
and fishing industries by efficiently using special features
of the area to create an active industrial economy and employment |
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Aiming at further advancing
the promotion of measures based on the 5th term promotion plan, the
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, promotes the subsidizing
of projects such as the Northern Territories adjoining land region
promotion begun in 2004, and measures which promote the development
of industries for cities and towns of an adjoining land regions, and
supporting interchange with other areas. |
| (2) |
To assist the cost of independent enterprises
undertaken by cities and towns of adjoining land area, a Northern
Territories Adjoining Land Region Promotion Fund has been established
in Hokkaido (with savings totaling 10 billion yen). |
| (3) |
Based on the promotion plan, to support
auxiliary enterprises such as roads, rivers, sewers, residences and
city parks in cities and towns of an adjoining land regions umbrella
measures are taken. |
|
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| Yume-no-mori (Dream
Forest) Park (Nakashibetsu Town) |
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| Classification |
Area (square kilometers) |
Population (number of people) |
| Nemuro City |
512.59 |
32,266 |
| Bekkai Town |
1,320.16 |
17,010 |
| Nakashibetsu Town |
684.98 |
24,046 |
| Shibetsu Town |
624.46 |
6,258 |
| Rausu Town |
397.84 |
6,721 |
| In Nemuro sub-prefecture |
3,540.03 |
86,301 |
| Note: |
Population in the basic
resident register of 2004; Area according to the 2004 Geographical
Survey Institute investigation. Also, the Habomai Islets (99.94 square
kilometers) are included in the area of Nemuro City. |
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