Home > News > The Prime Minister in Action > December 2020 > Courtesy Call from the Liaison Council of Municipalities in Nemuro Subprefecture for the Development of Regions near the Northern Territories
The Prime Minister in Action
Courtesy Call from the Liaison Council of Municipalities in Nemuro Subprefecture for the Development of Regions near the Northern Territories
December 1, 2020
Photograph of the Prime Minister receiving the courtesy call (1)
Photograph of the Prime Minister receiving the courtesy call (2)
Photograph of the Prime Minister receiving the courtesy call (3)
[Provisional Translation]
On December 1, 2020, the Prime Minister received a courtesy call from the Liaison Council of Municipalities in Nemuro Subprefecture for the Development of Regions near the Northern Territories at the Prime Minister’s Office.
The Prime Minister said in his address,
“Thank you for coming to the Prime Minister’s Office amidst your busy schedules today. I wish to express my heartfelt appreciation for your leadership and efforts in promoting the national movement for the return of the Northern Territories.
Even 75 years after the end of World War II, we have not yet resolved the Northern Territories issue and concluded a Peace Treaty. Facing that situation, my heart is filled with the sense of duty to resolve this issue as soon as possible. In September after my appointment as Prime Minister, I held a telephone talk with President Putin of Russia. During the talk, I conveyed my intention to put an end to the Northern Territories issue without leaving it to the next generation. We also agreed to continue dialogues on matters including the issue of concluding a peace treaty.
President Putin said that he recognizes the importance of visa-free visits and is ready to resume the visits once the novel coronavirus is contained. Based on Japan’s basic policy of resolving the Northern Territories issue and concluding a Peace Treaty, with your thoughts in mind, we intend to work steadily towards a final resolution to this issue, even if it is one step at a time. Once again, thank you very much for coming today.”
