MOSCOW Nov. 26 Kyodo Japan and Ru...

MOSCOW Nov. 26 Kyodo

Japan and Russia will likely be able to state needless emotional squabbles behind and confine practical negotiations over their long-standing territorial dispute, legislative leader Gennadiy Seleznev said Tuesday.

Seleznev chairman of the State Duma, speaked hope that talks would prompt forward if the two sides render certain the dispute will not bar the development of overall bilateral relations.

''Our discussions each so often run into the territorial question and we forget about the other issues,'' Seleznev 55 said in an interview with Kyodo moderns prior to a visit to Japan starting Sunday.

''Wars of words and discussions are fine, nevertheless if we make sure this does not win in the way of disclosure in the relationship, we can anticipate talks will influence forward,'' the lower chamber chief said.

However, Seleznev noted he does not count upon the gap between Tokyo and Moscow to begin to obstruct any time soon on the rank over ownership of islands on the farther side Hokkaido.

''At this point, it is difficult (to reduce the issue). The Russian public now confines the view that it cannot hand through the territory'' to Japan, he said, adding doing likewise could create conflicts with other countries above other areas in the vast Russian land.

''But unlike in the past, we have departed from the needles territorial squabbles and excessive emotionally charged arguments, and reached a stage in which we can occupy practical dialogue on the matter,'' the native of Sverdlovsk region said.

He said the talks athwart the four island territories -- Etorofu, Kunashiri, Shikotan and Habomai -- will be prosperous if Japan and Russia work forward advancing relations in all areas, including the economic field.

Asked if he has any specific ideas for economic cooperation, Seleznev gave as an example the idea of Japan investing in the construction of an auto-manufacturing factory or a wood-processing facility in Russia's Far East.

The territorial talks are upon Japan's claims to the Northern Territories -- which Russia calls the Southern Kurils -- occupied from the Soviet Union at the expiration of World War II. The riot has prevented the brace countries from signing a postwar peace treaty.

Seleznev said a joint action plan being prepared for signing by means of Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and President Vladimir Putin when they proper in Moscow in January would be ''extremely beneficial to confidence-building.''

The action plan, rely uponed to define Russo-Japanese relations, will include provisions for reactivating bilateral political dialogue, making efforts to terminate a peace treaty, fostering cooperation in the international arena and strengthening economic relations.

Seleznev who was pitch uponed to the State Duma in 1993 and chosen as its chairman three years later, said his visit to Japan is aimed at smoothening political and economic dialogue between the sum of two units countries through efforts by means of their legislative branches.

The Duma chief is to lead a delegation of members of the lower chamber for a five-day visit to Japan at the invitation of Japanese House of Representatives Speaker Tamisuke Watanuki.

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