OREANDA-NEWS. Japan and Russia must step by step work out a solution to the problem of a peace treaty that would be acceptable to the peoples of both countries. This was announced on Friday by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, speaking at a "National rally for the return of the northern territories", a Russian media correspondent reports from the scene.

"In order to find a solution that would suit both sides, we will step by step advance the negotiation process", Abe said. The head of the Japanese government also noted that for this it's also necessary to achieve understanding between the peoples of both countries and build relations of mutual trust and friendship. Abe also emphasized the importance of further developing jointly Japanese-Russian economic and economic activities in the southern part of the Kuril Islands.

For many decades Moscow and Tokyo have been holding consultations with a view to working out a peace treaty following the results of World War II. The main obstacle to this is disagreement over the rights to the southern part of the Kuril Islands.