
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, April 16, 1991                   TAG: 9104160571
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A/3   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: TOKYO                                LENGTH: Short

GORBACHEV SEEKS TIES WITH JAPAN

Mikhail Gorbachev began the first visit by a Soviet head of state to Japan today by seeking a reconciliation that would lead to Japanese help for the crumbling Soviet economy.

With little negotiating room on a thorny territorial dispute, Gorbachev offered conciliatory gestures aimed at putting historical resentments to rest.

In his only public remarks today, the Soviet president expressed condolences for the deaths of tens of thousands of Japanese prisoners of war in Siberian labor camps more than 40 year years ago, although he stopped short of a formal apology.

"Giving the tribute of respect to the memory of the war dead from both sides and expressing condolences to the families of the prisoners of war who died abroad, we say it is time to do everything we can so that our peoples and states will never again drift into the disaster of enmity," Gorbachev said in a toast at a banquet given by Emperor Akihito.

The emperor, in turn, said he was "happy that there is growing enthusiasm in every segment of both countries for deepening mutual understanding . . ."

Gorbachev and Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu discussed issues including the territorial dispute that kept their two nations from signing a World War II peace treaty.

by CNB