Japan Upper House Chief Calls for Peace Treaty with Russia

July 25, 2018

Moscow- Visiting Japanese Upper House leader on Tuesday called for efforts to conclude a bilateral peace treaty with Russia.

"Both Japan and Russia should make efforts to conclude a peace treaty by resolving difficult issues that lie between them so that they can exert their potential as neighbors," Chuichi Date, president of Japan's House of Councillors, said in a speech in Russia's Federation Council.

It was the first time for a Japanese Upper House president to deliver a speech in the upper chamber of Russia's parliament.

"Japan and Russia have been in an abnormal situation where no peace treaty has been concluded for over 70 years since the war's end," Date said. "Instead of avoiding facing the problem, we must strive to resolve it during our generation."

He also said the two countries should cooperate toward North Korea's denuclearization.

On Monday, Date held talks with Valentina Matviyenko, head of the Federation Council, and agreed to promote interparliamentary exchanges.

He also met with Vyacheslav Volodin, head of Russia's State Duma, the lower chamber.

Date, through his exchanges with Russian lawmakers, is seen trying to support territorial negotiations between Tokyo and Moscow.

A longstanding territorial row over four northwestern Pacific islands, called the Northern Territories in Japan and the South Kuril Islands in Russia, has prevented the two countries from concluding a peace treaty to formally end their World War II hostilities.Jiji Press