Japanese top diplomat calls for stepping up peace treaty talks with Russia - TV

Japanese Foreign Minister has called for stepping up the peace treaty talks with Russia, TASS reported citing the NHK TV channel.

"We would like to complete these talks as soon as possible given the old age of the former residents of the four northern islands [which is what Russia’s southern Kuril Islands are called in Japan - TASS]," Taro Kono said delivering a speech in the city of Sapporo on Hokkaido Island where he had arrived after a visit to Moscow.

The Japanese top diplomat emphasized the need to determine various options that would satisfy both parties because otherwise it would be impossible for the two countries’ parliaments to ratify a peace treaty.