VLADIVOSTOK. Jan 21 (Interfax) - The Kremlin views Japan's statements on a peace treaty voiced ahead of Japanese Shinzo Abe's visit to Russia as unsuccessful, noting that they are creating some problems in Moscow-Tokyo talks on this issue.
The Japanese "have complicated the negotiating process, this is for sure," Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov said in an interview with the Rossiya (VGTRK) TV channel.
"The territorial problem cannot be settled until the Russians agree on the transfer of the belonging [of the territory of the Kuril Islands]. He stressed that the Russians live on four islands now, and they should take part in the discussion on the future of this region," Abe said earlier.
"Our position at the talks initially has not implied that we will say to Russian citizens that, say, you, please, leave from here. We should persuade them of coming to an agreement regarding the transition of the islands' belonging to Japan," Abe said on the Japanese TV channel.