Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said Wednesday Tokyo will keep claiming sovereignty over the disputed islands off Hokkaido, dismissing Russian President Vladimir Putin's comments the previous day that there is no room for discussing the sovereignty issue.

The premier told reporters Japan has stood firm on seeking to sign a bilateral peace treaty after settling the territorial dispute by confirming with Russia that "the four islands belong to Japan."

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroyuki Hosoda echoed the premier's remarks, saying that "Japan has been consistent in its position. Naturally we'll strongly claim sovereignty over the four islands."

Putin said in a televised press conference Tuesday that although Russia is willing to keep negotiating the issue with Japan, there is no room for further discussion of Russia's sovereignty over the islands.

Putin plans to visit Japan in November for a summit with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, during which the territorial row is expected to be taken up as a main issue.

Hosoda said at a separate press conference Wednesday that returning sovereignty over the islands to Japan would provide "a basis" for the two countries to sign a bilateral World War II peace treaty.

The top government spokesman also stressed the need for Japan to reiterate its position on the issue, saying, "We doubt that the Russian side has thoroughly understood the background" of the long-standing dispute.

According to Kyodo News, Putin urged Japan to compromise over the issue, saying in the televised press conference that he hopes the two countries will be able to hammer out a solution to the row that could satisfy residents in the area surrounding the islands as well as the Russian and Japanese peoples.

Japan has demanded Russia return all of the islands (Etorofu, Kunashiri and Shikotan islands and the Habomai group of islets) or at least acknowledge that they belong to Japan.

(Xinhua News Agency September 29, 2005)