RF should develop practical relations with Japan - Borodavkin.

22/12 Tass 143

MOSCOW, December 22 (Itar-Tass) - Russia should develop relations with
Japan in order to create a base for resolving the territorial dispute,
Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Borodavkin said.
Commenting on the Russian-Japanese inter-governmental agreement on
cooperation in the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes at the
State Duma on Wednesday, Borodavkin said, "In all circumstances our
relations - trade, economic, humanitarian and political - are on the rise."
"This agreement [I hope that it will be ratified today by the State
Duma] will make a weighty contribution to this process," the diplomat
stressed.
Commenting on the territorial problem, the deputy foreign minister
said: "We should use all opportunities to develop practical cooperation
with Japan in order to convince our Japanese colleagues to develop
strategic partnership, good-neighbourliness and economic cooperation."
"In this context we should search for ways to solve the territorial
problem due to our national interests and our national security," he added.
-0-yur