Initial return of Shikotan, Habomai only solution: envoy

Initial return of Shikotan, Habomai only solution: envoy

TOKYO, Japan - Japanese Ambassador to Russia Minoru Tamba speaks in an interview with Kyodo News on Feb. 16. Tamba said that the initial return to Japan of Shikotan Island and the Habomai islet group of all the Russian-held islands is the only way to solve the decades-old territorial dispute, which has prevented the two sides signing a peace treaty.

Tang meets Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister Tamba

Tang meets Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister Tamba

Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan (R front) meets Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister Minoru Tamba (L) at his ministry in Beijing on June 15. They talked about the planned visit to China by Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi, scheduled for July, and other matters.

Japan, Russia to boost talks on territory row

Japan, Russia to boost talks on territory row

Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister Minoru Tamba (R) and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin shake hands at their one-day meeting in Tokyo on Dec. 9. They agreed to boost negotiations next month through two panels aiming to resolve a long-standing territorial row and realize a peace treaty by 2000.

Initial return of Shikotan, Habomai only solution: envoy

Initial return of Shikotan, Habomai only solution: envoy

TOKYO, Japan - Japanese Ambassador to Russia Minoru Tamba speaks in an interview with Kyodo News on Feb. 16. Tamba said that the initial return to Japan of Shikotan Island and the Habomai islet group of all the Russian-held islands is the only way to solve the decades-old territorial dispute, which has prevented the two sides signing a peace treaty.

Tang meets Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister Tamba

Tang meets Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister Tamba

Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan (R front) meets Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister Minoru Tamba (L) at his ministry in Beijing on June 15. They talked about the planned visit to China by Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi, scheduled for July, and other matters. ==Kyodo

Japan, Russia to boost talks on territory row

Japan, Russia to boost talks on territory row

Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister Minoru Tamba (R) and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin shake hands at their one-day meeting in Tokyo on Dec. 9. They agreed to boost negotiations next month through two panels aiming to resolve a long-standing territorial row and realize a peace treaty by 2000. ==Kyodo