Japanese want warmer ties with Moscow

Press, 16 July 1980, Page 9

Japanese want warmer ties with Moscow

NZPA-Reuter- Tokyo Zenko Suzuki will be urged by the Japanese Foreign Ministry .to improve relations between Japan and the Sbvie't Union after he is appointed. Prime Minister tomorrow. Foreign Ministry sources said in Tokyo. Mr Suzuki was yesterday made president of the ruling Liberal, Democratic Party, clearing the . way .for his designation as Prime Minister to succeed the late Masayoshi Ohira., / Moves to . improve,- relations -with Moscow, which have been strained , since the Soviet military intervention

in Afghanistan, would be a big diplomatic task for the hew Government, the sources said. : A first step, is expected to be taken on Friday when Nicolai Solovjev, head of the Second Soviet Bureau of Far Eastern Affairs in charge of relations with Japan, will start a six-day visit to Tokyo. The sources said the officially-sanctioned visit, the 'first, by a Soviet official to Japan since the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan, could pave the way for Ministeriar exchanges, if not the opening' of a formal dialogue. But Japan would continue

. to take a firm stand on the : issue, which it had • condemned along with the. United States and other noni Communist countries, the i sources said. > The strain in Japan-Soviet • relations was reflected at ’ last Wednesday’s memorial 1 service for Mr Ohira, where , Moscow was represented > only by its ambassador in ! contrast to the presence of > President Carter and the Chinese leader (Mr Hua Guo- , feng). Mr Suzuki has already confirmed he will pursue the , main policies of his political ; mentor, Mr Ohira.