Russia has asked to postpone until March a summit between Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori and Russian President Vladimir Putin that had been set for late February, Foreign Minister Yohei Kono said Thursday.
Kono, who returned from Moscow on Wednesday after meeting with his Russian counterpart, Igor Ivanov, to arrange the date of the meeting, told reporters that he does not know the reason behind the request. He said he was notified by the Russian government of the request on the plane on his way home.
"I had notice from Russia saying that Feb. 25 and 26 would be difficult," Kono said. "We had reached a general agreement (on the schedule). I must ask about the reason behind this."
Later Thursday, government sources said Russia has proposed holding the talks on March 25 or 26.
Kono said Thursday that the decision to change the date was reached in a meeting between Putin and Ivanov shortly after he left Moscow.
Mori told reporters Thursday: "They appear to be busy and we ourselves are at one of the busiest times. So we should not take it in a bad way." The Diet is scheduled to convene Jan. 31.
Mori and Putin agreed in November to meet in Irkutsk, eastern Siberia, on condition that progress is made between the two over a territorial dispute that has prevented the two countries from concluding the peace pact.
The territorial dispute involves Japan's claims to Etorofu, Kunashiri, Shikotan islands and the Habomai islets, which were seized by Soviet troops at the end of World War II.
Kono visited Russia on the last leg of a tour that included visits to the Middle East and Sweden.