2ND LD: Maehara eyeing visit to Russia in Feb. for foreign ministerial talks+

TOKYO, Dec. 4 Kyodo -
(EDS: ADDING MORE INFO)
Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara expressed hope Saturday to hold talks with his
Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Moscow at an early date to try to resolve
a longstanding bilateral territorial dispute.
His trip to Russia is expected to be arranged in February, in the hope that the
foreign ministerial talks would pave the way for a summit meeting between Prime
Minister Naoto Kan and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Japanese government
sources said.
''I want to go to Moscow as soon as possible'' for talks with Lavrov, Maehara
told a press conference in Nemuro, Hokkaido, after inspecting four nearby
islands, which are held by Russia but claimed by Japan, from the air and from
the shore in Hokkaido.
He said Japan is reworking its foreign policy strategy toward Russia, including
a plan to promote cooperation in fields in which Japan excels such as
energy-saving technologies and high-speed railways.
After viewing the islands from the air, Maehara told reporters aboard a Japan
Coast Guard plane, ''I really want to resolve the issue concerning the Northern
Territories.''
The foreign minister, who had boarded the plane at Chitose airport in Hokkaido,
said, ''Relations between Japan and Russia will become solid if the territorial
issue is settled. We have to tackle it steadily by taking various measures.''
Maehara became the first Japanese minister to view the disputed islands since
Medvedev visited one of the islands on Nov. 1.
Concerning the Japanese foreign minister's inspection of the islands, Russia's
Itar-Tass news agency quoted a source in the Kremlin as saying that anyone can
admire the beauty of Russian landscapes.
During his stay in Hokkaido, Maehara also exchanged views with former Japanese
residents of the islands and activists seeking the return of the territories.
The islands are called the Southern Kurils in Russia.
He told the former islanders and activists that he had reinforced his resolve
to settle the territorial issue as soon as possible and to conclude a peace
treaty between Japan and Russia.
Maehara visited Nemuro in October last year as minister in charge of the
Northern Territories and viewed Kunashiri, Etorofu and Shikotan islands as well
as the Habomai islet group, provoking the Russian side by saying, ''We must
continue claiming that it is an unlawful occupation.''
After becoming foreign minister in September, Maehara met with Russian
counterpart Lavrov last month in Yokohama and agreed to explore a mutually
acceptable solution to the territorial dispute.
The territorial spat has prevented the two countries from signing a postwar
peace treaty.
==Kyodo