Japan PM urges Vladimir Putin to resolve island dispute

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe gestures as he speaks with Russian President Vladimir Putin during the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok. (Photo: AFP)

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called on Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday to work together to resolve once and for all an island row that has marred ties for more than seven decades.

Abe made the appeal in a speech delivered at a businessconference in the Russian port city of Vladivostok, with Putinin attendance.

“As the leader of Japan, I am firmly convinced of thecorrectness of the Japanese position, while you, Vladimir, asthe leader of Russia, are entirely confident of the correctness of the Russian position,” Abe said. “Yet, if we continue on like this, this very same discussion will continue for yet more decades to come. By leaving thesituation as it is, neither you nor I will be able to leavebetter possibilities to future generations.”

Japan claims a string of Russia-controlled western Pacificislands, called the Northern Territories in Japan and Southern Kuriles in Russia. The territorial row over the island chain, seized by Soviet troops at the end of World War Two, has upset diplomatic relations ever since, precluding a formal peace treaty betweenthe two countries.

Abe’s father Shintaro Abe worked to resolve the dispute in the 1980s as foreign minister. The speech comes one day after he held talks with Putin and agreed to have two more summit meetings by the end of the year to accelerate peace treaty negotiations. “Vladimir, in order to carve out towards the futurebilateral relations overflowing with unlimited potential, I amresolved to putting forth all my strength to advance therelationship between Japan and Russia, together with you,” Abe said.