Japanese politicians starting to realize need to resume dialogue with Russia - Naryshkin
MOSCOW. May 22 (Interfax) - Japanese politicians are beginning to realize the importance of dialogue with Moscow, Russian State Duma Speaker Sergei Naryshkin told the Rossiya 24 television station.
"It seems to me that Japanese politicians are starting to realize the need to resume this dialogue in full," he said.
Moscow's stance on this matter remains unchanged because "we favor open, equal and honest dialogue addressing any problems, no matter how difficult they are," Naryshkin said.
"The only thing is that all partners should demonstrate mutual respect for each other and articulate their point of view with reason," he said.
Such dialogue is taking place even today, but it is faltering "for reasons that have nothing to do with bilateral relations," as well as under the influence of "political forces that are present thousands of kilometers from both Russia and Japan," the Russian parliamentarian said.
Naryshkin reiterated that a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was possible.
"Such a meeting can and should take place, but it ought to be preceded by a certain period of preparations," Naryshkin said.
