Abe headed to U.N.; talks with Putin also on schedule

A preview of the transcript of the Abe/Putin conversation:

Abe: The Northern Islands really belong to us and we would like you to give them back. Putin: No. Abe: Pretty please, we really REALLY would like you to give them back. Putin: No. We have them. What are you going to do about it? Abe: . So, do you watch much rugby?

Seriously, what is there to talk about with Putin?!

@zones2surf"Seriously, what is there to talk about with Putin?"

Oil/gas supplies, fishing in Russian economical zone, tourism, cultural exchange etc. And if Mr Abe focuses his foreign policy only on "island problem", the planned meeting is really worthless. It was a very stupid decision for him to join western economical sanctions against Russia, instead of keeping independent policy and supporting talks about "Northern Territories". For instance, last year South Korea rejected American offer to join sanctions. Thank to Mr Abe Japan has recently lost last weak chances to return those islets. The case is closed.

The case is closed.

The case is not closed. Nothing has changed. The Northern Territories are still occupied by Russians.

Abe: "Give us back the northern territories, or at least acknowledge our ownership". Putin: "No. We generously offered to return two of the islands some time ago. You refused. That offer is now off the table. Oh by the way, did Japan offer to return Sakhalin, or any of the territory it won from Russia in 1905? How about your negotiations with China over the senaku islands?" Abe: "Um, let me check my new version history book"

@Yamashi,

Oil/gas supplies, fishing in Russian economical zone, tourism, cultural exchange etc.

Oh, I don't disagree with you. There ARE things to talk about. But any conversation about the Northern Territories will go nowhere. The Russians have made that abundantly clear.

@tinawatanabe,

The case is not closed. Nothing has changed. The Northern Territories are still occupied by Russians.

And will be for the next 100 years, if not longer. Just the reality.

Great, perhaps they can reignite the steamy nights they had at Sochi, before big Vlad took time off from his bear wrestling to start a war in the Crimea. Indeed, I would what excites Abe about Putin? The suppression of democracy? The assassination of political opponents? The development of a "muscular" foreign policy? Perhaps it all does.

Why is everyone bickering about Abe, Putin and Kuril islands? Didn't Kishida brief Abe after meeting with the russian PM? Saying something like, "Sorry boss, they won't budge. They (russians) are definitely going to keep those islands".

Abe may creak open his country’s notoriously tight immigration policy by accepting some refugees

That's scary! Why would Abe do such a thing?

@tinawatanabe"The Northern Territories are still occupied by Russians"

So what? Everyone is well aware that large part of Okinawa island is occupied by Americans too. And Tokyo authorities approve it. You see, Putin is a dictator but he is definitely not a fool. So he will not humiliate Russia by giving any islets to Japan while Japanese politicians are in union with the USA against Russia. The good ol' American principle " you are either with us or against us".****

I was shaken to the core to rea d that P.M. Abe may allow Syrians into Japan, out of all the potential migrants that want tocome to Japan, Muslims are the worst. They never, repeat integrate, their Koran is a book full of hate against non-muslims. Don't bow to American pressure on this. Europe is now totally ruined because of Mutti Merkel's stupidity to invite Muslims en-mass to Germany, they breed and spread like a cancer until they have turn their host country into the same kind of rat hole they escaped from. Finally, 50% of Muslim men in the U.K. are on welfare, for women it's 75%. They dont contribute to medical costs, and usually get free housing ahead of locals.......No Mr Abe, think long and hard before you invite any Syrian Muslims to Japan, you wont suffer from them being here, the the tax paying public will.

So he will not humiliate Russia by giving any islets to Japan while Japanese politicians are in union with the USA against Russia

I might agree with you here. After Abe sided with the US regarding Ukraine, compromise was definitely off the table

"talks with Putin also on schedule"

Abe: Would you please return to Japan the islands the Soviet Union stole in 1945?

Putin: No, that would be too unpopular in Russia. However, we could negotiate some business deals that would be lucrative to both our countries.

Abe: Let me get back to you on that.

Putin: Sure, but try to be quick about it.

Abe's right-wing backers will never allow Abe to accept Russian ownership of the islets