Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said in Parliament on Tuesday that he intends to give a new impetus to relations with Russia during his visit to Moscow.
» I hope that during his visit to Russia, which will take place this year, and will be the first in the last ten years, the official visit of Japanese head office in this country, will be able to give the Russian-Japanese relations a new impetus to » — Said . Abe .
He stressed that in a changing environment in Asia and the Pacific region with Russia to acquire special significance in Japan, and their improvement should serve for the good of Japan. The Prime Minister noted that he also » Persistently continue negotiations to determine whether the northern territories » As in Japan called the four southern Kuril Islands, » To solve the territorial issue and sign a peace treaty between the two countries » RIA Novosti reported .
Japanese Prime Minister plans to visit Moscow for a «long weekend» at the end of April — beginning of May, but the official date for the visit has not yet been announced.
Recall Japan claims the four Kuril Islands — Etorofu, Shikotan and Habomai, referring to the bilateral Treaty on Commerce and borders of 1855. Return of the island Tokyo on condition of a peace treaty with Russia, which at the end of World War II and has not been signed. Moscow\’s position is that the southern Kuril Islands became part of the Soviet Union following the Second World War and the Russian sovereignty over them, having the relevant international legal clearance, can not be questioned.