Motegi, Lavrov exchange opinions on peace treaty talks

September 26, 2019

New York--Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, on Wednesday exchanged opinions about how their countries should proceed with negotiations on a proposed bilateral peace treaty and other issues.

In a meeting in New York, Motegi said to Lavrov that he, as Japan's chief negotiator, wants to have good discussions with the Russian side on issues including the promotion of proposed joint economic activities on and around the northwestern Pacific islands at the center of the two countries' territorial dispute.

Lavrov said Russia wants to build a solid relationship with Japan. He invited Motegi to Russia and the two agreed to realize the visit at an early date.

They met for the first time since Motegi took his current post earlier this month. Their talks lasted about 45 minutes.

The territorial spat over the four Russian-controlled islands has prevented Tokyo and Moscow from concluding a peace treaty to formally end their World War II hostilities. The islands were seized by the former Soviet Union from Japan at the end of the war. Jiji Press