Russia and Japan to co-operate in rescue operations.

July 15, 1997 Cooperation of the Russian Ministry of Transportation and Japanese specialists will focus "on creation of joint rescue units in the Far Eastern sea basin" after an investigation into the wreck of the Nakhodka oil tanker off shore Japan is finalised, Minister of Transportation Nikolai Tsakh told. The minister did justice to Japan, "which is even ready to issue credits for creation of such services." In its turn, Russia is ready to assign to this task "all forces involved in rescue operations and sea law."
During First Deputy Prime Minister Boris Nemtsov's visit to Japan in June 1997, the sides reached agreements to boost creation of joint services for sea catastrophes and their ecological consequences. The document, signed by Nemtsov in Tokyo, says "the Russian and Japanese sides agreed to form a body, which will elaborate a concept and create joint rescue services," Tsakh added.