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Russia's and Japan's views on the "islands problem" remain opposite

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Moscow, June 5 (RIA Novosti) - Russia and Japan still have opposite views on the "islands problem," announced Russian foreign ministry spokesman Alexander Yakovenko summing up the results of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's visit to Japan. In an interview with Channel 1 of the Russian television, Yakovenko pointed out that "the results of Lavrov's visit to Japan were important in the view of the upcoming visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to Tokyo." "And although the sides still maintain opposite views on the "islands problem," we felt the desire of the Japanese side to develop relations in various spheres: political, economic and hi-tech industry," the Russian foreign ministry's spokesman said.

Yakovenko added that Lavrov's trip to the Far East and Kazakh capital, Astana, was very important from the point of view of the implementation of tasks envisioned by the Russian foreign policy in the East.

"Lavrov's meetings with the Indian and the Chinese foreign ministers in Vladivostok were very important and productive."

"The three countries with the combined population of about three billion people not only have common views on future world order and conduct a sincere dialogue on key problems of the modern world, but also reached a new level of cooperation in all spheres. We are satisfied with the results of the talks," the spokesman said.

He also said, "the meeting of the foreign ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) (in Astana) demonstrated that the organization, with an active role played by Russia, develops with a quick pace. More and more countries want to participate in its work in the sphere of security and maintaining stability in the region."

Yakovenko told the reporters the ministers recommended that India, Iran and Pakistan should be granted the status of observers in the SCO framework.

The SCO consists of  Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

The full text of the interview has been published on the official web site of the Russian foreign ministry (www.mid.ru) on Saturday.

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