Japanese PM says solution of territorial dispute with Russia to be difficult

TOKYO, April 3. /TASS/. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan has reaffirmed his plans to visit Russia at the end of April, saying however that resolution of the territorial dispute in relations with Russia will be a difficult one. He said it at a meeting with members of the cabinet and top officials of the ruling parties. "I plan to visit Russia at the end of April for a meeting with President Vladimir Putin," he was quoted by Japanese media. "Solution of the territorial issue won’t be easy but I plan to move forward to the signing of a peace treaty with Russia while bearing in mind the aspirations of former residents of ‘northern islands’." Russian and Japanese officials are working now to arrange the Prime Minister’s trip to Moscow on April 27-28. Japanese said earlier Abe might visit either Moscow or St Petersburg. Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed on March 30 Shinzo Abe’s visit to Moscow had been scheduled for the end of April. Read more