Japan-Russia Relations
Attendance of Minister of Foreign Affairs Kamikawa at the 2024 National Rally to Demand the Return of the Northern Territories
February 7, 2024
- On February 7, "Northern Territories Day," Minister of Foreign Affairs KAMIKAWA Yoko attended the "2024 National Rally to Demand the Return of the Northern Territories" and delivered an address (PDF)
. - At the rally, Foreign Minister Kamikawa stated in her address that although Japan-Russia relations remain in a difficult situation, the government will firmly maintain its policy of concluding a peace treaty through the resolution of the territorial issue. Minister Kamikawa also stated that the government would continue to strongly call on the Russian side to resume the programs, with particular emphasis on the visit to graves in the Northern Islands, expressing her strong desire to respond to the earnest wishes of the former island residents, whose average age is now 88 years old. Minister Kamikawa also expressed her determination to exercise her leadership as Minister of Foreign Affairs toward the resolution of Northern Territories issue and the conclusion of a peace treaty.
(Reference) 2024 National Rally to Demand the Return of the Northern Territories
Since 1981, this Rally has been held every year in Tokyo on "Northern Territories Day," February 7, 2024, with the attendance of the Prime Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and representatives of various political parties. The rally is intended to bring together the related parties from the public and private sectors such as the government, former residents of the Northern Territories, organizations campaigning for the return of the Northern Territories to express their firm determination to demand the early return of the Northern Territories, and to hope for further development of the movement to demand the return of the Northern Territories.