Japan opposes Russia's plan for tariff-free zone on disputed isles

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said Thursday he told his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov during their talks in New York that Tokyo cannot accept Moscow's proposal to launch a tariff-free special economic zone on disputed islands.During their meeting, held on the fringes of the U.N. General Assembly sessions, Lavrov took up the issue and Motegi repeated Tokyo's position that Japan does not support the scheme as it would involve applying Russian laws to the islands.With regard to joint economic projects on the islands, they should be implemented without infringing on Japan's le…READ FULL ARTICLE