Transcript of Putin's Press Conference

Territorial dispute with Japan

As regards territorial issues that exist between Russia and Japan, I can say that, in my opinion, much has been done towards that end over the past year or a year and a half, or two years. In the end, the most important thing is the status of the people who believe that this territory is their homeland, those who consider it to be their homeland after the Second World War and those who considered it to be their homeland before the Second World War. We had to make the steps about which the leaders of our countries have been talking for decades but, unfortunately, little has been done towards that end in practical terms over the period of time which I have just mentioned - over the past year and a half or two years.

The situation has changed to obtain new quality, let me reiterate this. You know that Japanese citizens can freely arrive in that territory. Joint economic activity has got under way there, and this creates a very good basis for finally solving all the territorial issues. I cannot tell you now how it will be solved, but I am convinced that both Japan and the Russian Federation are absolutely interested in solving it. And we will be trying to solve this problem as well.

[Moderator] The fifth row, please - a little bit over there, please. Thanks