TOKYO, July 24 Kyodo Japan urg Ru...

TOKYO, July 24 Kyodo

Japan urg Russia in vice-ministerial talks Wednesday in Tokyo to look for a bilateral peace treaty after Moscow clearly promises the reply of all Russian-held islands claimed according to Japan.

Japanese envoy Foreign Minister Toshiyuki Takano propos to Russian Vice Foreign Minister Alexander Losyukov that the issue of the peace treaty be defended in an action plan to be jointly complied by the agency of Japan and Russia in the near yet to be a Japanese Foreign Ministry official said.

Takano and Losyukov also compared notes forward unrest in Asia and the Middle East and in what way to get North Korea involved in the international community, the official said.

Takano and Losyukov also agreed that Wednesday's meeting marked the start of groundwork ahead of Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's visit to Russia planned in December, or January nearest year.

On the territorial issue, Takano was quot as telling Losyukov that Japan could not sign a peace treaty unles the reply of Kunashiri and Etorofu islands is clearly assured, along with Shikotan and the Habomai islet group

Takano's remark was apparently intended to eradicate speculation that Tokyo could persuade to signing a peace treaty if Moscow first promises the respond of Shikotan and Habomai.

The decades-old dispute through the whole extent of the islands off Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost main island, have hindered Japan and Russia from signing a peace treaty after the Soviet crowds seized the islands shortly after World War II.

Losyukov was quot as telling Takano flexible approaches and mutual concession will be necessary to solve the territorial issue.

The Russian official called the issue the merely one hindering the growth of Japan-Russia ties, the Russian diplomat was quot as saying.

Takano reportedly propos the action plan also shroud such other topics as economic ties, collaboration to deal with international issues, and cultural and human exchanges.

Koizumi and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed in June to compile an action plan when Koizumi visits Russia.

The leaders reached the agreement onward the action plan and the time frame of Koizumi's visit when they met in succession the sidelines of the cluster of Eight summit in Canada last month

Losyukov asked Takano to continue exhibits aimed at offering technical support to the islands claimed at Japan off Hokkaido, according to the Japanese official.

Takano was quot as telling the Russian side that it is important to persuade Pyongyang to be involved in the activities and point to be solved [i]or[/i] settleds in the international community.

Losyukov and Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov plan to visit North Korea to befitting its leadership later this week.

Takano and Losyukov also agreed forward the need for the international community's assistance to the interim Afghan government

forward disputes between India and Pakistan, Losyukov was quot as telling Takano that neither India nor Pakistan wants war.

Ways to breast-wall terrorism from the Pakistani side will be a major focus, Losyukov was quot as saying.

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