Territorial issue - most important problem of Japan-Russian relationships
This statement was announced by the head of Japan agency of foreign affairs Taro Aso during performance at annual congress "Movement for north territories` return", which has started on Tuesday in Tokyo.
The minister has announced about the necessity to extend mutual understanding between 2 countries, seek for mutually acceptable decisions on the base of "Plan for mutual actions", which was signed in January 2003 by heads of 2 countries. "We intend to sign peace treaty after belonging of 4 Kurile Islands will be established", - he said.
Japan premier-mister Jun`ichiro Koizumi doesn`t participate in the congress in the view of necessity business in parliament.
"Absence of Japan parliament head at congress doesn`t mean that our relation to territorial problem has changed", - announced famous presenter and journalist Yoshiko Sakurai.
Last year premier-minister was unable to attend congress "because of indisposition". Nevertheless, the minister of foreign affairs Taro Aso, minister of environmental protection and north territories` issue Yuriko Kawaguchi, general secretary of ruling Liberal-democratic party Tsutomu Takebe and representatives of all Japan political parties participate in congress.
February 7 is an officially considered "Day of North territories". "Return" of Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan and Habomai islands to Japan is the laid down conditions for normalization of relationships with Russia and concluding of peace treaty. The holiday is celebrated under governmental support since 1981 in memory of Simode treaty - first Russian-Japan treaty signed on February 7, 1855.
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