FROM EIR DAILY ALERT

Japanese Premier Abe Wants His People To Take Part in Finalizing Russia-Japan Peace Treaty

Feb. 7, 2019 (EIRNS)—Prime Minister Shinzo Abe urged the Japanese people’s participation in moving the Japan-Russia peace treaty talks forward. “It is not easy to resolve the issue that remains 73 years after the war. However, we must do it. I will work on resolving the territorial dispute step by step,” Abe said, TASS reported. Both Russia and Japan have claimed an island chain that Russia identifies as the Southern Kurils, and Japan calls the Northern Territories since the end of World War II. The lack of resolution has prevented the two from signing a peace treaty between them.

“For progressing in negotiations, it is very important for every citizen to deepen their interest and understanding of the problem, and the government should work together with the people as a whole,” Abe said.

Abe also pointed out that after his visit to Moscow in January this year, he and Russian President Vladimir Putin tasked their Foreign Ministers Sergey Lavrov and Taro Kono to hold the next round of talks on the peace treaty in February. Abe said that he expects to hold another meeting with Putin in June, when the Japanese city of Osaka will host the G20 summit, TASS reported.