(RFE/RL)
December 15, 2006 -- Japan's foreign minister has denied proposing a solution to a dispute with Russia over a string of islands.
Speaking in parliament on December 13, Taro Aso said the two countries could split the four main islands called the Southern Kuriles by Russia and the Northern Territories by Japan.
Today, however, Aso said the discussion did not mean Tokyo would make such a proposal to Moscow.
(AP)