Shinzo Abe's dream was to sign peace treaty with Russia, now situation is different - Putin
MOSCOW. May 29 (Interfax) - Russia and Japan made serious progress towards signing a peace treaty under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, but now the situation is different, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting with Abe's widow at the Kremlin on Thursday.
"I know that his dream - and his sincere aspiration - was to sign a peace treaty between our countries. And we seriously moved forward on this path. Now the situation is different," Putin said at a meeting with Akie Abe whose husband died tragically.
Abe played a huge role in the development of Russian-Japanese relations and Russia will forever have good memories about this Japanese statesman, Putin said.
"Your husband did a lot to develop Russian-Japanese relations. We established good personal relations. I also remember my trips to Japan at his invitation," Putin said.
"I could see that he sincerely aspired to a full restoration of Russian-Japanese cooperation and did a lot for that. To a known extent, he continued the tradition of his family, because his father, a minister of foreign affairs, adhered to the same position. We are very grateful to him for his position and always treated with respect his work in this direction, we remember his contribution in the development of Russian-Japanese cooperation," Putin said.
"Russia preserves memory of him and his work," Putin said about Shinzo Abe whose life was tragically cut short in a terrorist attack.
He recalled his trip to Abe's home prefecture of Yamaguchi where the then prime minister extended him a "very warm family welcome."
"I am certain that the death of your spouse shocked everyone who knew him. He was a statesman, a consistent and tough person where necessary, and at the same time very friendly and soft, where possible," Putin said.
It was at Abe's initiative that the two countries created a plan to cooperate in a variety of areas, Putin said.
Abe was "always a welcome guest in our country," Putin said.
The widow thanked Putin for having found the time in his busy schedule to meet with her and emphasized Shinzo Abe's sincere desire to develop relations with Russia.
"As you said correctly, I repeatedly accompanied my husband on trips to Russia. And on arriving here now, I experienced very strong nostalgic feelings," Akie Abe said with tears in her eyes.
She said that, as Japan's foreign minister her father-in-law Shintaro Abe fostered the relationship with Moscow, and Shinzo Abe, who met with Putin 27 times, sought to continue this tradition.
"And this itself is testament to the contribution he was trying to make in the bilateral relations. I can note the aspect that you visited the Yamaguchi Prefecture, his homeland, not everyone and no other foreign leader had been there. That he welcomed you there attests to his especially sincere attitude to your country," she said, noting that residents of the prefecture still have warm memories of Putin's visit.
Akie Abe thanked Putin have having so actively developed the dialogue with her husband and wanting to develop the relations between their countries.
"I can say that my husband, even after the complicated situation related to Ukraine began, wanted to meet with you and cherished such a hope. But, unfortunately, the circumstances prevented him from meeting with you ever again: his life was cut short. He always said, by way of bequeathing, that the process he was trying to expand must be continued," Abe's widow said.
Having noted her not being a politician and not wanting to bring up political issues at the meeting, she said: "I can say just one thing: for Japan, Russia is a very important neighbor. And for me, it would be happiness if our countries developed cultural exchanges and human contacts even at this difficult time."
The meeting concluded with Putin making his Aurus available to take Akie Abe from the Kremlin to the Bolshoi Theater. Images of her riding in the presidential limousine were published by the journalist Pavel Zarubin on his Telegram channel.
