WEB DESK
Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has said that he is determined to settle the country’s territorial issue with Russia through a peace treaty, reports NHK.
Abe was speaking in Tokyo at an annual national rally to demand the return of four Russian-held islands. Japan has claim over them. The event was held on Thursday, Northern Territories Day.
A Japan-Russia treaty signed on February 7th, 1855, recognized the islands as belonging to Japan.
Japan’s government maintains that the islands are an inherent part of the country’s territory. It says they were illegally occupied after World War Two.
Abe said at the rally that although it’s not easy to settle problems left unresolved more than 73 years after the end of the war, the issue must be resolved.
He said he will strongly push for joint efforts with Russia so Japanese and Russian people can deepen mutual trust and find a solution acceptable to both.
Abe said he’ll continue negotiations on the basic principle of settling the territorial issue and concluding a peace treaty through such efforts.
Last November, Abe and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to speed up treaty negotiations based on the 1956 declaration. It says after a treaty is concluded, two of the four islands will be handed over to Japan.