Prime Minister of Japan is ready to put an end to the territorial problem in relations with Russia
TOKYO, December 12. /Offset. TASS Igor Belyaev/. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is ready to put an end to the territorial problem in relations with Russia. As reported by the Agency Kyodo, the corresponding statement he made at a meeting with former Japanese residents of the “Northern territories” (as they call the Russian southern Kuril Islands — approx. TASS).
“I want to hold negotiations at the highest level (President Vladimir Putin) from the position determined to put an end to the territorial problem,” — said the head of government.
Russia and Japan since the middle of last century, with interruptions having consultations on the question of drafting a peace Treaty at the end of the Second world war. The main obstacle to this remains the problem of the affiliation of the southern part of the Kuril Islands. At the end of the war, the entire Kuril archipelago was incorporated into the Soviet Union. The ownership of Islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri, Shikotan and the uninhabited ridge of Habomai is disputed by Japan.
The Russian President’s visit to Japan scheduled for December 15-16. Events the first day will be held in Sochi — in the birthplace of Abe. The next day, as expected, Putin will visit Tokyo.