北方領土「政府と国民一丸で」　岸田首相、返還要求全国大会に出席

　岸田文雄首相は７日、東京都内で政府など主催の北方領土返還要求全国大会に出席した。首相はあいさつで、ロシアのウクライナ侵攻を踏まえ「日ロ関係は厳しい状況にある」と指摘。「領土問題を解決し、平和条約を締結する方針を堅持している。政府と国民が一丸となって取り組むことが不可欠だ」と訴えた。
　また、墓参など交流事業に関し「今後の日ロ関係の中でも最優先事項の一つだ。一日も早く事業が再開できるような状況になることを強く期待する」と語った。
　大会はウクライナ侵攻後初めて。事務局によると、新型コロナウイルス感染拡大の影響で過去２年はオンラインで行われ、元島民や返還運動関係者ら聴衆が参加するのは３年ぶり。（2023/02/07-12:49）

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Tuesday vowed to make all-out efforts to resolve the country's decades-old territorial issue with Russia over four northwestern Pacific islands, known as the Northern Territories in Japan.
   Amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Japan-Russia relationship is "in a difficult situation," Kishida said at the National Rally to Demand the Return of the Northern Territories, held in Tokyo by the government and others. Feb. 7 is designated as Northern Territories Day in Japan.
   "We are sticking to the policy of concluding a peace treaty (with Russia) after resolving the territorial row," Kishida said, adding, "It is essential for the government and the public to join forces in tackling the matter."
   The islands, located off Hokkaido, northern Japan, were seized by the former Soviet Union from Japan at the end of World War II and have long been claimed by Japan. The territorial dispute has been preventing Tokyo and Moscow from concluding a peace treaty to formally end their wartime hostilities.
   Kishida said exchange programs with Russia, including one for visits to family graves on the islands by former Japanese residents, are among "the highest-priority issues" for Japan-Russia relations moving forward. "I do hope that the situation will turn around as soon as possible to allow the restart (of the programs)," he said.