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Russia’s top diplomat in Japan to discuss leaders’ meetings Russia, Japan agree to leaders’ meetings this year
(about 3 hours later)
TOKYO — Top diplomats from Japan and Russia were making preparations in Tokyo on Friday for their leaders’ meetings later this year, hoping to deepen relations overshadowed by a World War II territorial dispute and the conflict in Ukraine. TOKYO — Top diplomats from Japan and Russia agreed Friday on scheduling their leaders’ meetings this year, starting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s visit to Russia, to deepen relations overshadowed by a World War II territorial dispute and the conflict in Ukraine.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s trip came days after Japan hosted foreign ministers from the Group of Seven industrialized nations. Russia is barred from G-7 because of its annexation of Crimea in 2014. That has also shelved Russian President Vladimir Putin’s Japan visit for nearly two years.Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s trip came days after Japan hosted foreign ministers from the Group of Seven industrialized nations. Russia is barred from G-7 because of its annexation of Crimea in 2014. That has also shelved Russian President Vladimir Putin’s Japan visit for nearly two years.
Still, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has been pushing to make progress in the dispute over Russian-held islands, called the Northern Territories in Japan and the southern Kurils in Russia, which has kept the two countries from signing a peace treaty formally ending their World War II hostilities. Still, Abe has been pushing to make progress in the dispute over Russian-held islands, called the Northern Territories in Japan and the southern Kurils in Russia, which has kept the two countries from signing a peace treaty formally ending their World War II hostilities.
Media reports say the officials were arranging for Abe to make an unofficial trip to Sochi in southern Russia on May 6 to meet with Putin, ahead of Putin’s return visit. The two ministers said Abe will unofficially visit Russia “soon,” but declined to give details. They also agreed to hold high-level talks on a possibility of starting negotiations toward signing a peace treaty.
Lavrov said that Russia was open to continue dialogue with Japan on the territorial issues, but that Moscow’s position remained unchanged. “The Russian position is that (the ownership) is based on the results of World War II,” he said.
Media reports say Abe would travel to Sochi in southern Russia on May 6 to meet with Putin, ahead of Putin’s return visit
Japan is in a delicate position.Japan is in a delicate position.
As part of the G-7, it supports the group’s diplomatic isolation of Russia. At the same time, Tokyo wants good relations with Moscow to maintain dialogue and negotiate the territorial dispute.As part of the G-7, it supports the group’s diplomatic isolation of Russia. At the same time, Tokyo wants good relations with Moscow to maintain dialogue and negotiate the territorial dispute.
The two sides have stepped up economic and diplomatic cooperation despite Russia’s support for rebels in eastern Ukraine.The two sides have stepped up economic and diplomatic cooperation despite Russia’s support for rebels in eastern Ukraine.
A senior lawmaker from Abe’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party met in early April with Russian Trade and Industry Minister Denis Manturov and handed him Abe’s letter for Putin. ___
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Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.