§ Mr. ElletsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect of the dispute between Russia and Japan over the Kurile islands on Japanese participation in western arrangements for aid and investment for Russia.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggWe hope the dispute over the islands can be resolved quickly and to the satisfaction of16W both parties but it has not prevented Japan from taking a close interest in the progress of economic reform in Russia along with other G7 partners. Japan hosted the Tokyo conference on assistance to the former Soviet Union in October last year. As G7 chair this year, Japan is considering with other colleagues what more the west can do to support reform in Russia and invited the Russian Deputy Prime Minister for talks with senior G7 officials in Hong Kong over the weekend.