Russian, Japanese FMs Hold Talks in Moscow

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, October 13, 2002

Russian, Japanese FMs Hold Talks in Moscow

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Japanese Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi said Saturday that a planned Japanese-Russian peace treaty must be based on the solution of the problem of the four disputed South Kuril islands (four northern islands).

She made the comments after meeting with her Russian counterpart Igor Ivanov in Moscow, stressing that the absence of apeace treaty between Russia and Japan was "an abnormal state of affairs."

She said that if the two countries sign such an accord, they "will be able to develop bilateral relations in all fields even more actively".

"The most serious problem in relations between Moscow and Tokyois that the border line is not established," she said.

Territorial disputes over the South Kuril islands, which Japan calls the "Four Northern islands", have stalled Russia-Japanese ties.

The islands were seized by the Soviet Union during the closing days of World War II. Japan claims the islands and insists on their return.

Kawaguchi arrived in Moscow Friday on her first four-day visit to Russia since she was appointed Japan's top diplomat in February2002.

The main goal of her visit is for preparations for the Japaneseprime minister's visit scheduled for next January.

Kawaguchi said the dates for a visit by Japanese Prime MinisterJunichiro Koizumi would likely be announced after her meeting Monday with President Vladimir Putin.

Kawaguchi said she and Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov agreed on a six-point plan for developing relations. The top points she named were strengthening political dialogue and increasing efforts to conclude a peace treaty.

"This document will become a kind of route map for the movementof our countries to the construction of a true strategic partnership," Ivanov said, according to the Interfax news agency.

Kawaguchi said that during the summit, Putin and Koizumi would approve the plan.

Referring to fight terrorism, Ivanov said that the two countries plan a mutual consultation on terrorism on November 13-14 in Japan.

"Russia and Japan have the same position on combating international terrorism and are acting within the framework of theinternational anti-terrorism coalition," Ivanov said.

The two ministers also discussed the Middle East conflict, Iraqissue and post-Afghanistan construction as well as other issues.

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