Japan, Russia meet on disputed territories, economic ties

Japan and Russia on Friday held talks here to discuss territorial issues and bilateral economic cooperation, as well as the arrangement of a planned meeting between Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi. The talks, which involved Japan's Deputy Foreign Minister Shinsuke Sugiyama and his Russian counterpart Igor Morgulov, covered the issues of disputed territories, which prevent the two countries from reaching a peace treaty since the end of World War II. Japan and Russia are at odds over a group of islands north off Japan's Hokkaido. The islets are known as the Southern Kurils in Russia and the Northern Territories in Japan. "We would like to have candid consultation on important issues such as the settlement of the issue of the Northern Territories and conclusion of a peace treaty," Sugiyama was quoted by local media as saying during the meeting. Morgulov, for his part, said that Russia intends to discuss history of the territorial issue, according to local media. The two officials will also cover bilateral economic cooperation and cultural exchange, as well as other regional issues, during their meet. Abe plans to attend the opening ceremony of the Sochi Winter Olympics on Feb. 7 before meeting with Putin, who said he will visit Japan this year.