Russia, Japan to continue efforts to end Kuril Islands dispute

05/11/200810:31

TOKYO, November 5 (RIA Novosti) - The Russian and Japanese foreign ministers agreed on Wednesday to continue their efforts to conclude a peace treaty marking a formal end to World War II.

The 60-year dispute over the South Kuril Islands, Japanese territory annexed by the Soviet Union after World War II, has prevented Moscow and Tokyo from signing a peace treaty, and has been a major obstacle to closer cooperation in areas such as energy.

During his visit to Japan, Sergei Lavrov told his Japanese counterpart, Hirofumi Nakasone, that Russia and Japan should be guided by their leaders' agreed aim of finding a "mutually acceptable" solution to the territorial dispute over the islands.

Lavrov said the two countries would continue the dialogue in an effort to "strengthen bilateral ties, trust and mutual understanding," adding that "this is the very best way to find an acceptable solution."

The Japanese foreign minister called on both countries to reach a deal that would contribute to developing the Russian-Japanese relations in economy and other spheres.

Russia and Japan are preparing a host of agreements regarding nuclear energy, space, visa facilitation and criminal proceedings.

The foreign ministers also discussed the global financial crisis, which has toppled Western banks and pushed developed economies toward recession.

"The governments of the Asia Pacific Region have a great amount of free financial resources, making [the region] one of the key players in the search for answers to the challenges the world is facing today," Lavrov said.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso are expected to meet on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Peru schedule for November 22-23.

Russia believes that the principles developed in a new security treaty for Europe, which Medvedev first suggested to German Chancellor Angela Merkel in June, could also apply to the Asia-Pacific region, Lavrov said.

© RIA Novosti, 2008