Japanese Prime Minister Abe promises not to leave the problem of a peace treaty for future generations
Japan's negotiations with Russia on a peace treaty should not be stopped and left for future generations, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stated at the congress of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party of Japan. The corresponding video was published on the party’s YouTube channel.
“We should not hand over to future generations the problem that has not been solved during past 70 years. I am determined to solve this problem together with [Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin and to continue active negotiations on the peace treaty”, Abe said.
Russia and Japan have not been able to conclude a peace treaty due to the dispute over the Kuril Islands. According to the Japanese government, four islands of the Kuril Ridge are Japan’s territory. The latest negotiations between Abe and Putin on this issue took place in January in Moscow. The parties agreed to instruct the foreign ministers of the two countries to continue negotiations.
It was later reported that the Japanese authorities refused to use the phrase “illegal occupation” of the Kuril Islands by Russia. In addition, the government refused to specify of whether the southern Kuril Islands is considered the “original territory” of Japan.