Moscow, Tokyo to continue negotiations over peace treaty

Diplomats from Russia and Japan on Friday reaffirmed willingness to continue the search for an solution to their unresolved peace treaty issue.

According to a statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexei Borodavkin and Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister Koro Bessho finished the latest round of consultations on Friday.

"They had a constructive discussion of problems of security and the development of cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region," said the statement.

The two officials also gave a generally positive evaluation of bilateral relations, it added.

"They emphasized the active political dialog, primarily that held on the summit level, as well as positive development of trade, economic cooperation and cultural and humanitarian relations," it said.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said recently that the four disputed Pacific islands, known as the Southern Kurils in Russia and the Northern Territories in Japan, are "an important region of our country" and he would "visit them in the near future without fail."

These islands were occupied by Soviet troops in 1945 and are currently under Russian control.

Medvedev's planned visit has since rekindled an age-old burning debate between Japan and Russia that has failed to be amicably resolved despite numerous declarations and treaties since the end of World War II.

Source: Xinhua