MOSCOW, November 10 - Tokyo hopes a serious discussion on a peace treaty will take place during Russian President Vladimir Putin`s visit to Japan, Japanese Ambassador to Russia Issei Nomura said Thursday.

Nomura said that Japan still stood firm on its territorial claims to the Russian Kuril Islands of Iturup, Kunashir, Khabomai and Shikotan in the North Pacific Ocean.

President Vladimir Putin addressed the issue in his nation-wide, televised question and answer session, affirming Moscow`s stance on the Russian sovereignty of the islands as "not negotiable." But he said Russia wanted to settle territorial disputes with Japan and expressed hope that the two nations would eventually find a solution.

It was reported earlier that Putin was scheduled to visit Japan November 20 after the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in South Korea.
sections: Politics, World News