Japan's Abe maintains stance on sovereignty over disputed Russian-held islands

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday maintained the country's stance that four islands central to a territorial dispute with Russia are an inherent part of Japan's territory, although expressed his intention to work towards resolving the issue with Russia.

Abe stated in a lower house committee meeting Monday that "There is no change" in Japan's stance of sovereignty over the disputed islands, with the remarks being made amid proposals that Tokyo work initially towards pushing for the return of two of the four islands from Moscow.

The comments made by Abe come ahead of a planned visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to Japan in December, during which Abe hopes to make significant headway on the territorial row.

Abe stated on Monday that both him and Putin had agreed in principle it was "unusual" for both countries to have not signed a postwar peace treaty, expressing hope that the long-standing spat with Russia over four islands off Hokkaido, called Etorofu, Kunashiri, Shikotan and Habomai in Japan, could be discussed candidly during Putin's visit.

"Resolving the territorial issue is the right decision for the future of both Japan and Russia," Japan's prime minister said.

The four isles administered by Russia are believed by Japan to be a part of the Nemuro Sub-prefecture of Hokkaido and are referred to by Japan as the Northern Territories. Russia, however, maintains that the islands that they refer to as the Southern Kurils are their territory with Russian leaders repeatedly referring to the islands as a strategic region of Russia.

Abe has frequently said however that he is eager to resolve the dispute with Russia, although Moscow also equally insists on its sovereignty over all four islands, with the protracted dispute having prevented the two countries from signing a postwar peace treaty. Endit