Russian, Japanese Border Guards To Hold Exercise Off Sakhalin

25.10.2011 Japanese Coast Guard patrol ship arrives at the port of Korsakov (Sakhalin Island, Russia) on Oct 25 to attend Russian-Japanese exercise of frontier services, reports RIA Novosti referring to a representative of Sakhalin Coast Guard Dept Natalia Yershova.

"Japanese patrol ship Soya will stay at Sakhalin till Oct 28. Purpose of the visit is improvement of international cooperation between border guard agencies of the two countries and countering trans-frontier criminality at sea", Yershova said.

According to her, apart from joint exercise the visit program includes solemn meeting ceremony at Korsakov port, courtesy visits of Japanese delegation, state receptions arranged by both parties, and concerts for the crews of Russian and Japanese ships. Besides, residents and guests of Sakhalin Island will be allowed to visit a Russian Coast Guard ship and Japanese patrol vessel Soya.

The history of mutual official calls paid by Sakhalin and Japanese frontiersmen goes back to 2000. When the memorandum of cooperation development between Russian FSB Frontier Service and Japanese Coast Guard was signed, a Sakhalin patrol ship for the first time attended the naval parade in Tokyo Bay. In 2003 two other Russian patrol vessels participated in an exercise jointly with Japanese ships. Since 2007 this trend has received new impulse; joint drills and official visits of Russian and Japanese border guards are becoming regular. The most eventful year was 2008 when frontier agencies of both countries celebrated jubilees; Russian Frontier Service turned 90, and Japanese Coast Guard – 60.

Such close cooperation promotes mutual understanding and helps to protect territorial waters of both countries more effectively, respond to regional challenges rapidly, and reach compromise in problematic issues.