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In his message to Yoshiro Mori, Vladimir Putin said, in part:

“Russia is deeply grieved to learn of this sad event.

For Russians, the name of Mr Obuchi, a major political and state figure in Japan, is closely associated with fundamental and positive changes in Russian-Japanese relations, and with the beginning of a creative partnership between Russia and Japan based on the Moscow Declaration, which he signed.

I remember my personal meeting with Mr Obuchi in September 1999 in Auckland, where we confirmed our mutual desire to steadily pursue our partnership. I was deeply impressed by Mr Obuchi’s kindness to our country and his superb human qualities. We will remember him as a sincere friend of Russia.”