Soviets Promise Japan Action on Grave Visits
New Soviet Ambassador to Japan Nikolai N. Solovyev has promised that his government will work to allow a resumption of visits by former Japanese residents to family graves on Soviet-controlled islands north of Japan.
A Foreign Ministry spokesman said the 54-year-old Soviet envoy made the pledge in a courtesy call Tuesday on Vice Foreign Minister Kensuke Yanagiya.
The grave visits by family members to what the Japanese call the Northern Territories were curtailed by the Soviets 11 years ago.
The islands--the Habomai island group and Shikotan, Etorofu and Kunashiri--were annexed by the Soviet Union as World War II ended.
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