Japanese FM visit is timely, relations to be discussed

MOSCOW (Itar-Tass) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei
Lavrov believes the visit by his Japanese counterpart Seiji Maehara to
Russia is timely and intends to openly discuss the situation in bilateral
relations.
"Frankly, I expected that I would receive you today against a more
pleasant political background rather than that formed in recent days
because of the whole number of largely unacceptable actions within the
so-called "Northern Territories Day", Lavrov said, opening the talks with
the Japanese foreign minister.
Lavrov noted his counterpart's arrival in Moscow was timely. He
expressed the hope the sides would "openly discuss the situation." "We
regard your visit as the observance by the Japanese government and you
personally of the agreements that were reached by the Russian president
and the Japanese prime minister in Yokohama," he added.
"Russia is ready for joint and consistent action to form true
partnership based on broad and comprehensive trade and economic
cooperation and on the basis of cooperation in international affairs," the
minister added. "I think that on this basis we will consider the agenda."
Maehara, in turn, stressed that "Russia and Japan have a territorial
problem." "But we must overcome it." This is consistent with the interests
of both parties and will help strengthen relations between the two
countries, he said.