Russian president to visit Japan on Nov 20-22
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-07-08 09:42

Japan and Russia agreed that President Vladimir Putin would visit Japan on November 20-22 for talks on a formal treaty to end a land dispute left over from World War II.

Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi made the arrangements during a 30-minute meeting on the sidelines of a Group of Eight summit here, marred by terrorist attacks in London.

Russia and Japan remain at loggerheads over the southern Kuril islands that were seized by Moscow at the end of the war, an act that has since prevented the two neighbors from signing a peace treaty.

Russian President Vladimir Putin(L) meets with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi during a bilateral meeting at the G8 summit in Gleneagles. Putin will visit Japan in November for talks aimed at ending a World War II land dispute.[AFP]

"This is a difficult issue, but the two sides confirmed that they will tackle it seriously by exercising their leadership," a Japanese government official said.

Russia has suggested handing back to Japan two of the four Kuril islands, which Japan calls the Northern Territories and lie just off the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido.

Japan, however, has demanded the return of all four of the islands, where Soviet troops evicted Japanese residents at the end of the war and brought in Russian settlers.

Koizumi offered his full support here for Russia's upcoming leadership of the Group of Eight and its plans to host next year's group summit, including security measures in the wake of the London undergound and bus attacks earlier in the day.

"I feel furious anger at the fact that terrorist attacks occurred on the opening day of this summit," Koizumi told Putin. "I would like to offer our maximum backing to a success in next year's summit."

Putin thanked Koizumi for the offer, the official added.

London police said explosions ripped through three underground trains and a bus, killing at least 37 people and injuring some 700 in a wave of bomb attacks.

Putin, in return, repeated his support for Tokyo's bid to secure a permanent seat in the UN Security Council, currently occupied by Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States.

The Russian president also said he intended to support a UN resolution prepared by Brazil, Germany, Japan and India on enlarging the Security Council "if it wins broad support."

The four nations are proposing four new permanent UN Security Council seats for themselves and two seats for Africa.

Close

Space shuttle Discovery launch delayed Blair plans measures to uproot extremism Pakistan train crash carnage kills 128

Today's Top News     Top World News
Taiwan's KMT Party to elect new leader Saturday         'No trouble brewing,' beer industry insists         Critics see security threat in Unocal bid         DPRK: Nuke-free peninsula our goal         Workplace death toll set to soar in China         No foreign controlling stakes in steel firms	Judge: Saddam trial could begin next month       DPRK: Nuke-free peninsula our goal       Pakistan train crash carnage kills 128       NASA delays shuttle launch till Saturday       Annan advocates UN Council expansion now       Israel seals off Gaza Strip settlements