Territorial issue can be solved through comprehensive coop - ambassador

TOKYO, September 3 (Itar-Tass) - Russian ambassador to Japan Mikhail
Beliy sees opportunities for progress in the two countries' relations
after the Democratic Party general election victory.
He expressed confidence that the territorial dispute can be resolved
only in an atmosphere of comprehensive cooperation.
"We have a good basis for stepping up bilateral relations proceeding
from a joint plan of actions approved by our countries' presidents in
2003," the ambassador told reporters after his meeting with the leader of
the Democratic Party, Yukio Hatoyama.
"I believe that on this basis we will continue to move our relations
forward bringing them to a qualitatively new level that meets the
interests of both Japan and Russia," he said.
Mikhail Beliy stressed, "if the Japanese side regards the territorial
dispute as the main problem of bilateral relations, it would be extremely
difficult, if not impossible, to resolve it."
"The solution to this problem can lie in the creation of a principally
new atmosphere, a comprehensive development of our cooperation, the
formation of genuine friendly and warm relations between our countries as
well as the search for such a solution that will be welcomed by both
countries," the ambassador said.

-0-isk/kud