Instead, he vowed to focus on concluding an official peace treaty with Russia, after meeting President Vladimir Putin 25 times, most recently last month. Abe speaks at the rally every year but struck a relatively softer tone on Thursday. The Soviet army seized them in the last days of World War II, and Russia continues to control them. At the rally, Abe spoke in front of a large banner saying “Return the Four Northern Islands.” But he did not utter the phrase. We must demand the return of all four islands,” said Kimio Waki, 78, who left his home island of Kunashiri at the age of seven after World War II.

Source: The Guardian February 07, 2019 07:52 UTC