Japan, Russia agree to maintain constructive dialogue over territory+

MOSCOW, Dec. 28 Kyodo -
Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada and his Russian counterpart Sergei
Lavrov agreed Monday to continue constructive dialogue on a long-standing
territorial dispute, while admitting that their countries have differing
stances on the issue, the two said after their meeting in Moscow.
As for what Russia calls a ''non-stereotypical'' approach that may possibly
lead to a breakthrough in the dispute, Lavrov said during a joint press
conference with Okada that they discussed such an approach. But he did not say
what this actually means.
The wording was used by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in February, raising
expectations in Japan at that time that progress could be made in negotiations
on the issue.
But there have so far been no significant moves forward.
Apparently with Medvedev's stance and Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's
eagerness to resolve the matter in mind, Okada told the press conference,
''Let's make use of the chance we have now and seek progress. We should not let
this chance go by.''
But he admitted there are ''quite large'' differences in the two countries'
views and that ''talks to bridge such differences have started.''
Lavrov also said, ''Our stances are different, but it is true that both Russia
and Japan are eager to resolve the territorial issue.''
On the ''non-stereotypical'' approach, he told the press conference that he
cannot reveal details.
The talks were the first foreign ministerial meeting between the two countries
since the inauguration of Japan's new government in September. Hatoyama and
Medvedev agreed in New York in September to hold such meetings to discuss the
territorial issue.
Hatoyama has reiterated he is eager to resolve the issue as the grandson of a
former prime minister who signed the 1956 Japan-Soviet Joint Declaration that
led to the resumption of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Touching on the issue of North Korea, Lavrov expressed hope of an early
resumption of the six-party talks aimed at denuclearizing Pyongyang during the
press conference.
The stalled multilateral talks involve North and South Korea, China, Japan,
Russia and the United States.
Okada stressed at the press conference Japan's policy of seeking to
comprehensively resolve the nuclear issue as well as the issue of North Korea's
past abductions of Japanese nationals and its missile programs.
After arriving in Moscow on Sunday, Okada met with Industry and Trade Minister
Viktor Khristenko and criticized Moscow's recent move to raise the tariff on
car imports as a ''protectionist measure,'' according to the Japanese Foreign
Ministry.
Khristenko was quoted as telling Okada the hike would be a ''temporary''
measure and that the government would consider ways of ''stably lifting'' it.
The tariff was raised in January this year following the global financial
crisis and has resulted in a large decline in vehicle imports from Japan.
The territorial dispute involving four Russian-administered islands --
Kunashiri, Etorofu, Shikotan and the Habomai islet group -- has prevented the
two countries from signing a post-World War II peace treaty.
The islands off Hokkaido are known in Japan as the Northern Territories and in
Russia as the Southern Kurils.
Moscow has insisted that it will only hand over two of the four islands after
the conclusion of a peace treaty. Japan insists that all four islands should be
returned.
Okada has been on a two-day visit to Russia since Sunday. He will return to
Japan on Tuesday.
==Kyodo
2009-12-28 23:31:32