Japan's reaction to Russian offer concerning peace treaty cautious.

15/11 Tass 79

TOKYO, November 15 (Itar-Tass) - Japan's reaction to Russian president'
s offer to change the approach to a peace treaty and prioritise the
economy instead of the territorial dispute has been cautious so far.
"We cannot simply say something like 'yes, yes, or course' to that,"
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku told a news conference here on
Monday. At the same time, he declined to give more concrete answers to
journalists' queries about the issue.
Informed sources say the Japanese government has begun work on
reconsidering its stance on talks with Russia in the new situation
following Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's trip to the South Kuriles.
The Yomiuri newspaper, close to the influential conservative circles,
writes that Prime Minister Naoto Kan must now look more seriously for ways
to a breakthrough in the territorial dispute with Russia, basing on
economic cooperation and technology transfer.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reported earlier that at a
meeting with Prime Minister Naoto Kan in Yokohama on November 13, Dmitry
Medvedev had offered to change the approach the problem of a peace treaty
between the countries.
"The president noted that it is better to refuse from emotional
statements and diplomatic gestures, because they do not help the business,
but to the contrary," he said. "The president offered to change the
approach to the problem of a peace treaty and to prioritize the economy,"
Lavrov elaborated.
"The broader economic cooperation is, the more solid the foundations
of the relations are," the minister added.
"Business circles of both countries are interested in normal
cooperation, while the task of the leaders is to encourage that in every
way," Lavrov stressed.
-0-zhe/ast


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