URGENT: Russian State Duma calls peace talks with Japan 'senseless'

MOSCOW, June 24 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's lower house of parliament adopted a statement on Wednesday declaring peace treaty talks with Japan senseless unless Tokyo cancels amendments to a law on the Kuril Islands.

On June 11, the lower chamber of the Japanese parliament amended a bill on what Japan calls the Northern Territories, declaring the islands "historic territory of Japan" and demanding action for their swift return.

"Efforts to resolve the peace treaty issue do not have any political or practical perspective" unless Japanese parliament cancels the adopted bill, the State Duma said in a statement.