Abe admits peace treaty issue with Russia cannot be settled with one meeting

Abe admits peace treaty issue with Russia cannot be settled with one meeting

But he's meeting with the decision maker.

“I want us two leaders to discuss this frankly and with open minds and make progress in negotiations on a peace treaty,”

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! Good one Abe!

We all have great hopes for peace from a PM which dedicate his energy for casino, sponsor weapon business and re-arm the country, don't change a thing.

Maybe he can rename the Southern Kurils as Cloud Cuckoo Land.

Now that Japan under Abe is newly available friendly neighbourhood arms dealer, maybe other deals are being made

Eh? There have been years and years and countless meetings where this could have been discussed. I guess I will have to put up with the caterwauling outside the Russian Embassy a little bit longer.

It really depends on what Russia wants from Japan. If it's cash for developing their squalid society, then that's ideal as there's plenty of that and could foster close business ties. If it's a long term geopolitical alliance or Russo-Chinese alignment, forget it. We don't mind dealing with them, but don't want them too close either

@dcog9065DEC. 06, 2016 - 10:34AM JST

From a geopolitical perspective, I must wonder why do you not "want" Japan to be "too close" to Russia, considering Russia (separated by a sea) borders the West and North of Japan. You want to free resources to deal with China, you need to get closer.

So it is like a usual Japanese meeting where nothing gets decided until meeting #5 or #6.

Abe should forget dreams of oil and natural gas pipeline. Japan should forget Russia. They are not not reliable trade partners. It's been over 75 years, let it go on for another 75 years. Peace is not possible with Russia.

@Kazuaki Shimazaki: Judging by Russia's past and present actions, I'd say it would be obvious why Japan should never consider aligning itself with Russia.? Far better to remain under American protection than untrustworthy and aggressive Russian protection. Even China would seem a better option

dont see what the problem is with just signing a damn treaty - its not like they are shooting at each other, they have embassies and diplomatic missions in each country, loads of student exchange and plenty of tourism and trade...things that other countries at peace do.

signing a peace treaty doesnt equal giving back the islands or forging an alliance...it just gives the two countries a neutral standing again...which is, on the surface, what is actually happening on the ground, and what everyone wants?

Well said Tokyo-star !! And what peace treaty? They are not at war.

@Rana,. yes, they must be war yet. That is why They are still talking. Though Abe was not born yet in 1945 and Russia was a Stalin's communist country, then. You see why Abe want to change constitution and USA does keep their troops in Japan.

@dcog9065

Far better to remain under American protection

Japan should get rid of this slave mentality. Why Japan should be under protection of any foreign country? Japan is not Puerto Rico or Guam, it is a developed country with potent military, it can take care of itself, without foreign "protection" or military bases on its soil.

Judging by Russia's past and present actions

Such as...? And want to compare it with US "past and present actions"?

untrustworthy and aggressive Russian protection

Russia does not enforce its protection, it offers equal political and economic cooperation. I hope you can see the difference.

Why Japan should be under protection of any foreign country?

not protection but occupation continuously since the war, which really affect the mentality of Japanese people.

It's not "just one meeting", as noted above, Abe has met Putin more than a dozen times and achieved nothing. It is clear to everyone except Abe that the islands will not be returned to Japan. If that is a precondition for a peace treaty then there will never be a peace treaty. Abe's "new approach" should incorporate those facts, instead of raising unrealistic hopes.

This guy is pretty thick. One meeting. Sure thing...

tinawatanabe: "not protection but occupation continuously since the war, which really affect the mentality of Japanese people."

Japan is not under occupation by anyone, tina, ESPECIALLY these islands, which belong to Russia. And yet when speaking of Japan's occupation of China and Korea and other nations, for which Japan slaughtered more than 10 million people, you say it was for the defense of Asia and it was not wrong -- and you claim the mentality of the people of those nations is not worth apology, nor do you even acknowledge the suffering Japan caused. Instead, you blame them. Again, Japan is not colonized -- Russian people are on Russian land, and that's all there is to it. If anything, it's Japan that wants to colonize the Russian Kuriles (as they did before).

Abe admits peace treaty issue with Russia cannot be settled with one meeting

This is a weird headline. Did anyone in the world think it could be done in one meeting, including the TR editor?