RUSSIAN, JAPANESE DIPLOMATS DISCUSS FORTHCOMING SUMMIT








TOKYO, MARCH 5, 2001. /RIA NOVOSTI CORRESPONDENT VYACHESLAV BANTIN/ -- Russo-Japanese consultations have been held in Tokyo at the level of deputy foreign ministers of the two nations. The sides, in part, discussed the context of raising Soviet-Japanese joint statement signed in 1956 at the forthcoming March 25 bilateral summit in Irkutsk. This was disclosed by deputy Russian Foreign Minister Alexander Losyukov in his interview with this RIA Novosti correspondent.


	The 1956 statement stipulates that, as a gesture of good will, Moscow was ready to give to Japan two out of four South Kurile islands after the peace agreement was signed. But Japan subsequently refused to sign the agreement on such terms and demanded all the four islands.


	At the consultations the sides raised the issues which are likely to be touched upon during the summit and the arrangements for the summit of the two national leaders, Mr Losyukov said.


	The Japanese side is sure that the summit will take place and all preparations for it must be completed. The Russian side agrees with such an approach, Mr Losyukov noted.