Medvedev says Russia ready to discuss any issues with Japan

NEW YORK, September 23 (Itar-Tass) -- Russia is ready to discuss any issues with Japan, including the knottiest ones, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Wednesday as he conferred with Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama.

"Russia is ready to discuss any problems, including the knottiest
ones," Medvedev said.
"Let's begin with making contacts, as this is very important for the
two countries," he said.
Hatoyama urged Medvedev to resolve the territorial problem between
Russia and Japan during the lifetime of the current generation of people.
He stressed his country's willingness to resolve the problem
eventually and to sign the peace treaty, which the two countries have
never signed after the end of World War II.
A resolution of this problem while today's generation of people is
still active will lay the grounds for a new Russian-Japanese relationship.
Medvedev, who congratulated Hatoyama on the occasion of victory in the
general election, pointed out the Japanese Prime Minister' good knowledge
of Russia, saying it is an important factor that should facilitate the
strengthening of relations between the two countries, as well as
development of trade and, above all, cooperation in all other areas.
Hatoyama noted, in his turn, Russia's willingness to develop relations
with countries in the Asia/Pacific region. He said he would like to assist
Moscow in this.
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