Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara called on Saturday for stable relations with Russia in order to solve a territorial dispute that has divided the two countries since World War II.
Maehara is carrying out his first inspection of the disputed Kurile Islands (called the Northern Territories in Japan) since Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's controversial visit to one of them on November 1.
Both countries have laid claim to the islands since they were seized by the Soviet Union at the end of World War II.
"We certainly want to solve the issue of the Northern Territories," Japan's Kiodo news agency quoted Maehara as saying. "Without strong political relations [with Russia], there can be no discussion on the territorial issue. Once the political situation is stable, we plan to hold talks with Russia."
He said the Japanese side would "take the preparatory steps" towards discussion of the issue.
Maehara is carrying out his inspection by air and through binoculars from Japan's northernmost island of Hokkaido.
On Saturday evening the minister is set to meet with former residents of the South Kuril islands, who fled the island after the arrival of the red army in 1945. He will also meet with members of a movement that campaigns for the islands to be returned to Japan.
Medvedev's visit, which caused Japan to temporarily recall its ambassador to Moscow, was the first trip by a head of state of Russia or the former Soviet Union to the South Kuril Islands.
Tokyo's continued claim over four South Kuril Islands (Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan, and Habomai) to the northeast of Japan has so far prevented Russia and Japan from signing a formal peace treaty to end World War II hostilities.
TOKYO, December 4 (RIA Novosti)
