Tokyo Says Has No Comments On Putin's Suggestion To Sign Peace Treaty By Year-End

Tokyo Says Has No Comments on Putin's Suggestion to Sign Peace Treaty by Year-End

The Japanese government refrains from commenting on the statement by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who hoped to conclude a peace treaty between the two countries by year-end, the Japanese Foreign Ministry told Sputnik on Wednesday, adding, at the same time, Tokyo's position on the issue remained same.

TOKYO (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 12th September, 2018) The Japanese government refrains from commenting on the statement by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who hoped to conclude a peace treaty between the two countries by year-end, the Japanese Foreign Ministry told Sputnik on Wednesday, adding, at the same time, Tokyo's position on the issue remained same.

Earlier in the day, the Putin suggested at a plenary session of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) signing a peace treaty between Russia and Japan until the end of the year without any preconditions.

"The Japanese government is aware of the mentioned Putin's statement. We refrain from commenting on President Putin's public statements. But there are no any changes in the Japanese government's [commitment] to persist in negotiating the peace treaty in compliance with [the government's official position] following resolution of the issue of the attribution of the four northern islands [four South Kuril Islands: Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan and Habomai]," the Japanese Foreign Ministry's representative said.