Hatoyama shows desire to make progress in territorial row with Russia+

TOKYO, Dec. 25 Kyodo -
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama expressed his desire Friday to make progress next
year in stalled negotiations with Russia on the bilateral territorial row over
four Russia-held islands off Hokkaido.
''I believe I have a stronger wish to solve this issue than any other prime
minister has ever had,'' Hatoyama said in an interview in Tokyo with media from
the northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido, where his constituency is located.
The 62-year-old Japanese leader is the grandson of former Prime Minister Ichiro
Hatoyama, who concluded the Japan-Soviet Joint Declaration in 1956 with then
Soviet Prime Minister Nikolai Bulganin to resume bilateral diplomatic
relations.
The president of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan has shown his eagerness
to achieve a breakthrough in the decades-old sovereignty dispute since he took
power in mid-September.
To that end, Hatoyama said during the interview that he is looking to increase
the number of summit meetings with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and hold
thorough discussions on that matter with him.
He also said, ''I see President Medvedev is also trying to settle the issue in
a non-stereotypical way.''
In reference to the Japan-U.S. relationship, Hatoyama reiterated that it is the
cornerstone of the nation's foreign policy and that a stable alliance between
the two countries would contribute to security in other Asian countries.
''I think I need to continue building relations of trust with (U.S.) President
(Barack) Obama,'' he said.
On the feud over the relocation of a U.S. Marines base in Okinawa Prefecture,
Hatoyama said people might be worried that the issue may affect future
bilateral relations.
But he said he has determined it is better for his government to take time --
several months -- and examine new options, including a new relocation site, so
as to find a conclusion that would satisfy people both in Okinawa Prefecture
and in Washington.
''I am confident that this way we can make the Japan-U.S. relationship an even
more solid one in the future,'' he said, calling again for public understanding
and patience on that issue.
On Japan's relations with China, South Korea and other Asian nations, Hatoyama
said that past Japanese governments led by the Liberal Democratic Party had
been unsuccessful in wiping out resentment among people in Asia over ''Japan's
deeds'' before and during World War II.
He stressed the need to overcome the past and create future-oriented
relationships with these countries.
On the domestic front, Hatoyama maintained that it is he who holds the ultimate
power in the government, not Ichiro Ozawa, secretary general of the Democratic
Party of Japan that the premier heads.
He made the comments as speculation has been recently growing that Ozawa is the
backroom fixer who actually controls the running of the government.
Especially during the decision-making process in the compilation of a fiscal
2010 budget proposal, it is believed that Ozawa's opinions were largely
reflected in the proposal.
Against this backdrop, Hatoyama said he wants to increase transparency in the
relationship between the DPJ and the government during policy-making processes.
==Kyodo