Putin Says Sovereignty of 2 Isles Subject to Talks with Japan

November 16, 2018

Moscow--Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested Thursday that the issue of sovereignty over two of four northwestern Pacific islands disputed between Tokyo and Moscow would be subject to negotiations between them.

Putin made the remarks after he and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, meeting in Singapore on Wednesday, agreed to accelerate talks on concluding a World War II peace treaty based on the 1956 Japan-Soviet joint declaration.

The declaration stipulates the return of the Habomai group of islets and Shikotan, two of the four islands, to Japan after the conclusion of the peace treaty.

At a press conference in Singapore on Thursday, Putin said that the declaration stipulates the Soviet Union would be ready to return the two islands once the peace treaty is signed, but that it does not refer to on what ground the isles would be handed over to Japan, and which side would have sovereignty over them.

An in-depth analysis is needed, he said.

Putin also said that Abe called on Japan and Russia to resume dialogue based on the 1956 declaration.

Russia believes that there is no territorial dispute with Japan based on an international agreement reached after the end of World War II. But Putin said Moscow is ready to work together with Tokyo on what Japan wants to discuss.

Soviet troops seized the four islands from Japan in the closing days of the war. The territorial row has prevented Tokyo and Moscow from concluding a peace treaty to formally end their wartime hostilities. Jiji Press