71.   It followed a string of recent rebuffs on a number of issues, including fishing rights.

72.   It prefers the dialogue to focus on peripheral issues such as fishing rights, and stressed yesterday that more substantive negotiations were unlikely this year.

73.   Japan has rejected Russian demands to pay for fishing rights, arguing that such payment would amount to recognizing Russian sovereignty over the disputed islands.

74.   Kasem urged that the two sides also act decisively to settle differences over fishing rights in the Andaman Sea.

75.   Kono and Soskovets also agreed during the morning session to start full-scale bilateral negotiations on fishing rights in the waters near the four islands, the officials said.

76.   Kozyrev told reporters prior to his departure for Moscow that the meeting in Moscow will discuss fishing rights around the disputed islands off northern Japan.

77.   Kono and Soskovets agreed, however, to start full-scale bilateral negotiations on fishing rights in the waters near four Russian-held islands also claimed by Japan.

78.   Kono and Soskovets also agreed to start full-scale negotiations on fishing rights in the waters near four Russian-held northern islands also claimed by Japan.

79.   Ministers discussed two longer-term projects for forging closer ties between Russia and the European Union, but signed only one agreement about fishing rights.

80.   More immediately, the cooperation accord could end a feud between the EU and Morocco over fishing rights.