(ESTIMATED PUB DATE) NORTHEAST ASIA: STATUS OF JAPANESE-SOVIET RELATIONS; JAPA

Created: 1/1/1982

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

The Japanese Governmentew approach lo the Soviet Union bu: issomen forrnulaiing aBfllJCY- Onecember, Tokyo announced it hadoviet proposal to resume talks between working-level Foreign Ministry officials. TheseMoscowbe the first since the invasion of Afghanistan. Depending on the results. Foreign Minister Sakurauchi may meet with Gromyko in Tokyo laterar

Tokyo does not want to lag behind the United States and Western Europe incontacts with the Soviets, but even so the talks probably will not lead to aimprovement in relations. Tokyo distrusts Moscow and is concerned about the Soviet military buildup. More important, the government has committed itself to the recovery of the Southern Kuriles and insists it will noteace treaty with the Soviel Union until it relinquishes the islands. This stance, however, causes afor Tokyo. The decision to reopen an official dialogue in order to improve the atmosphere for bilateral relations will attract support from the many Japanese who arc uncomfortable with the tense relationship with their powerful neighbor. But. at the same time. Tokyo risks raising doubts about its determination on the territorial question if it appears uvereagcr