Asahi reported from Moscow on remarks made yesterday by a senior Russian government official in charge of the Far East, in which he said Russia is capable of conducting economic activities in the Northern Territories “without Japanese participation.” Pointing out that Russian diplomats plan to hold talks with their Japanese counterparts in Tokyo in mid-March on proposed “joint economic activities” on the contested isles, the daily interpreted this comment to mean that any Japanese economic activities there must be carried out under the scope of Russian rules and regulations.