Lavrov hopes renewed direct talk with Tokyo will help solve Russian-Japanese problems
MOSCOW. Sept 21 (Interfax) - The resumption of direct communication with Tokyo instills hope of the two countries resuming their joint work on bilateral issues, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said.
"The resumption of direct contact instills hope that we will finally be able to start the joint work in this uneasy situation which resulted from factors that are not directly relevant to our bilateral relations," he said while opening talks with his Japanese counterpart.
Russia "aims to develop relations and solve problems, both old and new ones," he said.
"I would like to reaffirm the Russian Federation's determination to develop the whole range of Russian-Japanese relations and to resolve the remaining problems, as well as new ones that have emerged lately and are largely artificial," he added.
"In many areas of our practical cooperation there is still a significant, as yet unrealized potential," the minister said.