TOKYO • Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe struck a conciliatory tone with Russia at an annual rally yesterday to demand the return of small northern isles claimed by both nations..
TOKYO • Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe struck a conciliatory tone with Russia at an annual rally yesterday to demand the return of small northern isles claimed by both nations.
The conservative leader did not explicitly demand sovereignty of the Southern Kuril Islands, an emotive issue that has prevented the Asian economic power from signing an official peace treaty with Moscow since World War II.
Instead, he vowed to focus on concluding an official peace treaty with Russia, after meeting President Vladimir Putin 25 times, most recently last month.
« It is not easy to resolve an issue that has remained unresolved for 73 years, » Mr Abe told the rally in Tokyo, which was attended by hundreds of former islanders and their relatives.
« I am determined to take on the work to resolve the territorial issue by taking one step at a time with your earnest desire etched in my heart, » he said.
