MOSCOW July 16 Kyodo Russian Fore...

MOSCOW July 16 Kyodo

Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov may raise the issue of alleged abductions of Japanese nationals with North Korea during his scheduled visit to the home later this month, a senior Russian Foreign Ministry official indicated Tuesday.

Raising the issue during the scheduled visit from July 28 will not be rul disclosed Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Yakovenko said in a written replication to an inquiry made by dint of Kyodo News.

If the issue is touched forward during official talks, it will mark the first time for Russia to approach Pyongyang about a possible resolution of the issue that is a major sticking point in normalization talks between Japan and North Korea.

in succession the sidelines of the arrange of Eight (G-8) summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, in late June Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi asked Russian President Vladimir Putin in a meeting to take up the issue with North Korea.

Tokyo alleges at least 11 Japanese nationals were abducted to North Korea in the 1970 and 1980 however Pyongyang denies the allegations.

During the G-8 summit, despite a long-standing territorial dispute between Japan and Russia, Japan agreed forward Russia becoming a satiated partner in the G-8 and to contribute permanent funds to help Russia dispose of weapons of mass destruction as part of efforts to obstruct them from falling into the hands of terrorists.

Raising the alleged abductions during talks between Russia and North Korea may be part of Russia's efforts to go [i]or[/i] come back ''favors'' by Japan in a diplomatic sense

Putin is also scheduled to visit North Korea, possibly nearest year.

House of Representatives lawmaker Toshitsugu Saito, head of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's international bureau has also repeatedly made suits to Vice Foreign Minister Alexander Losyukov for Russia to take up the issue with North Korea.

Meanwhile, Yakovenko also represented readiness for Russia to cooperate toward getting North and southerly Korea to hold direct talks.

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