TOKYO, July 24. /ITAR-TASS/. Japan intends to continue a dialogue with Russia over the Northern Territories, Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Thursday.

Four islands that Russia calls the Southern Kurils and Japan calls the Northern Territories are the subject of 60-year-old dispute between the two nations.

“Despite the difficult situation, we seek to continue talks with Russia over the territorial dispute and signing of the peace treaty,” Abe said.

Since August 2013 Japan and Russia have held consultations on signing the peace treaty. The latest round of talks took place on January 31, 2013.

In May Japanese mass media said Tokyo refused to continue consultations due to the unrest in Ukraine and Japan’s decision to support sanctions against Russia.