Russian-Japanese phone talks

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi informed over the phone her Russian counterpart Igor Ivanov on the results of the October 30-31 talks between Japan and North Korea as regards normalization of bilateral relations.

The RF Foreign Ministry Information and Press Department has reported that Igor Ivanov spoke for "the preservation of the channels of the Tokyo-Pyongyang dialogue and further advancement of the process of Japanese-North Korean relations' normalization." The Russian side opines that it "would contribute to strengthening security and confidence in Northeast Asia." The Russian and Japanese Foreign Ministers also touched upon the issues of preparation for the visit by Japanese Premier Junichiro Koizumi to Russia, scheduled for January 2003.

Yoriko Kawaguchi expressed her sincere condolences to the relatives and close ones of those who had died in the October 23-26 Moscow terrorist act. Both sides emphasized the importance of joint actions to fight the terrorist threat.