RUSSIAN SIDE READY TO NEGOTIATE WITH JAPAN'S PRIME MINISTER








HANOI, MARCH 2, 2001, /RIA-NOVOSTI SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT/ -- The Russian side is ready to negotiate with Japan's Prime Minister, in case the Japanese side is also ready for such a summit. This was disclosed to RIA-NOVOSTI here today by Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Losyukov.


	At the same time, the high-ranking Russian diplomat declined to predict subsequent Japanese political developments; nor did he say anything on the Japanese political situation's influence on a possible Russian-Japanese summit and its deadlines. That summit is to take place in Irkutsk March 25.


	According to Japanese mass-media bodies, Yoshiro Mori might well announce his decision to quit as prime minister at a congress of the ruling Liberal-Democratic Party March 13.


	Mori's positions have now been considerably shaken by a string of sensational scandals involving prominent members of the Liberal-Democratic Party, which is headed by him; such scandals also involve staffers of Japan's Foreign Ministry.


	Apart from that, Mori is being subjected to sharp criticism for making statements that deal with history; by the way, such criticism also emanates from the Liberal-Democratic Party itself. Some Asian leaders have already expressed their indignation in connection with some of Mori's statements.


	The latest opinion polls show that Mori is supported by just about 6 percent of the entire Japanese electorate. As a matter of fact, no other post-war Japanese prime minister can boast such unprecedentedly low popularity.