Moscow hopes Japan's position on SKurils to change

MOSCOW, September 16 (Itar-Tass) -- Russia hopes the new Japanese
government will change the position on disputed South Kuril Islands which
would promote bilateral relationship, the foreign ministry said on
Thursday.
"We hope the position of the Japanese side will change and we also
hope our relations will get a new dynamic," foreign ministry spokesman
Alexander Lukashevich said.
He recalled the Russian president and the new prime minister of Japan
had recently had a telephone conversation.
"There are good prospects for our relations. We plan to use our
potential in full," Lukashevich said.