Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili signed a joint statement Friday to declare "solidarity for peace and democracy" and call for a peaceful settlement to his nation's row with Russia over Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
"We reiterated Japan's position to support peaceful solution of the issue based on the principle of territorial integrity of Georgia," Prime Minister Abe told reporters at his office following a summit with the Georgian leader.
Russia took control of Abkhazia and South Ossetia in 2008 and set up quasi-states, according to Margvelashvili.