JAPAN

Help Is Likely for Old Soviet Nuclear Plants: Japan is expected to pledge $25 million to help make old Soviet nuclear plants safe, media reports said. It would match the $25 million the United States plans to contribute. Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa will announce the grant at the summit of leading industrial nations in Munich this week, reports said. Meanwhile, Japan said it will resume working-level talks in Tokyo next week on a peace treaty with Russia. A dispute over Russian occupation of the Kuril Islands at the end of World War II has prevented the signing of a treaty and has been a major stumbling block to Japanese aid to Russia.