[Provisional Translation]

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe received a courtesy call from a group of junior high school students who are third and fourth generation descendants of former inhabitants of the Northern Territories of Japan, at the Prime Minister's Office.

These seven students spoke about their feelings toward the Northern Territories, after which the Prime Minister said,

“Welcome to the Prime Minister’s Office. Today, you all shared with me your thoughts about the Northern Territories and your feelings about Japan-Russia relations. I also heard your thoughts on the feelings of your grandparents, as well as your great-grandparents, toward the Northern Territories.

I feel that we must do something to change the current situation, in which the Northern Territories still have not been returned to Japan because Japan and Russia have not concluded a peace treaty, even though 70 years have passed since the end of World War II. Last year, I held a meeting with President Putin in Nagato City. We agreed to advance discussions to make it possible for people to freely visit the islands and to visit grave sites. We were scheduled to realize the first grave site visit via airplane last month, but unfortunately, due to the weather conditions, this was not possible. During my summit meeting with President Putin in Hamburg on July 7, we agreed to reschedule the visit for September. I will continue to make efforts to make it possible for the aging former residents of the Northern Territories to visit the islands and to visit grave sites with a greater level of freedom and in a more convenient way.

Just now, you mentioned the importance of advancing mutual understanding between Japan and Russia. I completely agree. As we work to realize free visits and joint economic activities on the four islands of the Northern Territories, I believe that mutual exchanges and mutual understanding will progress between our two countries, as well as between the Russians that currently live in the Northern Territories, and the former island residents.

During my meeting with President Putin in Nagato last year, I presented President Putin with letters from former island residents so that he could read them for himself. He read the letters in front of me with a very serious expression on his face. I believe that, as a result, we were able to agree on advancing efforts for free visits to the islands and visits to grave sites, and have further discussions. I will have another summit meeting with President Putin in Vladivostok this year. I will continue to exert every effort to make any progress possible on the issue of the four islands of the Northern Territories and the issue of peace treaty negotiations. As Prime Minister, I will do everything in my power to resolve the issue of the attribution of the four Northern Islands and conclude a peace treaty. I hope that all of you will also endeavor to have your voices heard throughout Japan.”