TOKYO, May 21. /TASS/. Russia, unlike the Soviet Union, which did not recognize the existence of a territorial dispute with Japan, does recognize it and is ready to seek a compromise solution, coordinator of the State Duma group of deputies for relations with the Japanese parliament Mikhail Slipenchuk said on Thursday. He was speaking at the bilateral forum under way in Tokyo.
"Politicians in both countries realize that, unlike the USSR, which did not recognize the existence of this problem, Russia does recognize it and is ready to seek a compromise solution," he said. Politicians will mull the issue for a long time, but the two countries’ economies must not be affected by this." That is why it’s very important to hold such events as the forum titled "Russia-Japan: Areas of Common Interest," the lawmaker noted.
He said he hoped a solution to this problems would be found sooner or later, since the two peoples have such character traits as patience and perseverance.
Russia-Japan peace treaty
Russia and Japan have no peace treaty signed World War II. Settlement of the problem inherited by Russia’s diplomacy from the Soviet Union is hampered by the years-long dispute over the four islands of Russia’s Southern Kuriles — Shikotan, Khabomai, Iturup and Kunashir, which Japan calls its northern territories.
After World War II, in September 1945, Japan signed the capitulation, and in February 1946, the Kuril Islands were declared territories of the Soviet Union.
During the cold war, Moscow did not recognize the territorial problem, but in October 1993, when Russian president Boris Yeltsin was on an official visit in Japan, the existence of the problem was confirmed officially. However, the two countries have reached no compromise over the dispute yet.