Naoto Kan might raise territorial problem at possible talks in Russia.

16/2 Tass 239

TOKYO, February 16 (Itar-Tass) - Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan
hopes to visit Russia this year despite the current setback in bilateral
relations, Naoto Kan declared at the Lower House of the Japanese
parliament on Wednesday. The prime minister said he was confident that the
Russian invitation remains in force yet.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev invited the Japanese prime minister
to visit Russia at their meeting held in the framework of the APEC forum
in Yokohama last November. If the visit takes place we will have talks on
the territorial problem and a number of economic issues, the prime
minister said.
Commenting on a recent visit to Moscow paid by Japanese Foreign
Minister Seiji Maehara and his talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei
Lavrov, Kan said that stemming from the problems discussed by the two
foreign ministers he was seriously thinking about the time and form of his
possible visit to Russia.
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