TOKYO, September 29 (RIA Novosti, Alexander Fesyun) - Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said Thursday there would be no progress in Russian-Japanese relations without first solving the dispute over the Kurils, a chain of islands in the North Pacific Ocean.
"We intend to sign a peace treaty with Russia after it returns all four disputed southern Kuril Islands [to Japan]," he said.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroyuki Hosoda said Wednesday Japan's approach to resolving the Kuril dispute had not changed and it would continue to insist on the return of the four islands.
Speaking on live television and radio Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the Kuril Islands legitimately belonged to Russia.
"This is the result of World War II, and we are not about to discuss this." However, the president said that Russia was ready to settle disputed issues, including with Japan.
