Development of RF-Japan relations require top dialogue - Maehara

TOKYO, February 4 (Itar-Tass) -- For the development of the
Russia-Japan relations and the peace treaty it is necessary to have
decisions of the two countries' leaders, Japan's Foreign Minister Seiji
Maehara told news conference on Friday.
Maehara's visit to Moscow is due next Thursday.
"For the development of the Russia-Japan relations and for the solving
of the territory problem it is necessary to have a dialogue between the
leaders of the two countries," he said is response to the question about
the purpose of his upcoming visit. "Foreign ministers have negotiations
and discuss various issues, but it is top leaders who make final
decisions."
"Next Russia-Japan summit is not scheduled as yet," he continued. "I
would like very much this meeting to happen and will do my best for it."
"It is necessary to have a peace treaty to settle the territory
problem," the minister said. "We pay much attention to it, and Russia,
too, confirms its importance."
Japan's foreign minister confirmed that Japan's position remains
unaltered: "to return the four islands and to achieve the peace treaty."
"Japan is prepared to cooperate with Russia in the economic sphere, in
foreign trade and in joint exploration of natural resources," Maehara
said. But "involvement of investors from third countries to the Northern
territories does not comply with the position of Japan's government," he
added answering the question about possible participation of investors
from South Korea in the economic exploration of South Kuril Islands.
Maehara refused to comment on Friday's trip of Russia's Defence
Minister Anatoly Serdyukov to the South Kuril Islands.