Kurils are Russia's, peace treaty to be discussed at Putin-Abe talks on margins of Eastern Economic Forum - Ushakov
MOSCOW. Sept 5 (Interfax) - During the discussion of a peace treaty at bilateral talks with Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum, Russian President Vladimir Putin will point out that the Kuril Islands belong to Russia, the Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov said.
"We are working on the premise that the Kurils Islands went over to the Soviet Union, to Russia, as the result of the Second World War, legally, in accordance with international agreements, and it is based on this axiom that we are having this conversation with Japanese representatives," Ushakov told reporters in advance of the two leaders' talks.
It will be impossible to avoid a discussion of peace treaty at the talks, he said.
"We are working on the premise that to sign a peace treaty there needs to be a proper atmosphere of trust and cooperation, to which end it is necessary to continue to develop bilateral communications and interaction in a variety of areas," Ushakov said.
The discussion will focus on Russian-Japanese business activities in the Kurils, relevant roadmaps are being negotiated to implement projects in five earlier specified areas, he said.
"The talks will be preceded by a visit to Mazda's engine factory in Vladivostok," Ushakov said.
After that, the two leaders will hold talks, first one on one, and joined by their delegations later. The leaders will make press statements without taking questions, after a ceremony of signing documents.