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Monday, 4 September, 2000, 18:42 GMT 19:42 UK
Putin rejects Kuril agreement with Japan
![]() Talks towards a peace treaty appear unlikely to succeed
President Vladimir Putin has told Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori that Moscow is not ready hand over four disputed islands close to Japan's coast, according to reports.
Mr Putin is in Tokyo for three days of talks aimed at establishing a formal peace treaty and improving trade ties.
Correspondents suggest that a formal peace treaty is unlikely without an agreement on the islands and this year's deadline may have to be dropped. Irreconcilable positions According to a Japanese Government official who took part in Monday's talks, the Russian leader said that Moscow was not ready to settle the territorial dispute.
Japan had proposed that its borders be expanded to include the islands. Russia is proposing that an interim peace deal be struck that sidelines the territorial dispute for now. The BBC's Charles Scanlon in Tokyo says few now believe that the 2000 deadline for signing a peace deal can be met. However, Japan is keen to continue improving relations in the hope that they will lead to Russian concessions at a later stage. Trade Russia and Japan on Monday signed a document aimed at promoting joint economic co-operation in the Kurils. On wider trade concerns, Russian reports say that Mr Mori warned Mr Putin that Japanese investors were wary of doing business in Russia.
The two leaders are due to resume talks on Tuesday. Robot dog Mr Mori presented Mr Putin with a robotic dog called Puti on Monday. The gleaming metallic robot puppy was given to Mr Putin to ease his fatigue, according to a Japanese foreign ministry official. When stroked, the dog sings the Russian national anthem and a folk song, and can speak a little Russian. Also on Monday, Japanese protesters drove through Tokyo's streets demanding the return of the disputed islands. One convoy of trucks carried a loudspeaker which blared simply: "Give them back." Several government buildings had to be sealed off by police.
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