Milano, Aug. 13 (LaPresse) – The Japanese leadership’s remarks about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to the Kuril Islands are “extremely outrageous and completely unacceptable.” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said this after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated that Putin’s visit was “incompatible with Japan’s position on the Northern Territories” and “absolutely unacceptable.” “Japanese officials have gone so far as to brazenly dictate to Moscow which regions of its own country the supreme leader may or may not visit,” Zakharova said, reiterating the claim that the Kuril Islands are “legally an integral part” of Russia. The Kuril Islands are a Pacific archipelago controlled by Moscow and also claimed by Japan, which lodged a diplomatic protest over Putin’s trip. Japan claims territorial rights over the four southernmost islands of the archipelago, which it calls the “Northern Territories.” The Soviet Union took them from Japan in the final days of World War II, and the dispute has prevented the two countries from signing a peace treaty formally ending hostilities. Decades of diplomatic efforts to negotiate a settlement have produced no tangible results. Over the years, Moscow has also strengthened its military presence in the Kurils, in moves that appeared to underscore its firm position in the dispute.
Russia, Moscow: “Unacceptable remarks from Japan on Kuril Islands”
Milano, Aug. 13 (LaPresse) – The Japanese leadership’s remarks about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to the Kuril Islands are “extremely outrageous and completely unacceptable.” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said this after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated that Putin’s visit was “incompatible with Japan’s position on the Northern Territories” and “absolutely unacceptable.” “Japanese officials have gone so far as to brazenly dictate to Moscow which regions of its own country the supreme leader may or may not visit,” Zakharova said, reiterating the claim that the Kuril Islands are “legally an integral part” of Russia. The Kuril Islands are a Pacific archipelago controlled by Moscow and also claimed by Japan, which lodged a diplomatic protest over Putin’s trip. Japan claims territorial rights over the four southernmost islands of the archipelago, which it calls the “Northern Territories.” The Soviet Union took them from Japan in the final days of World War II, and the dispute has prevented the two countries from signing a peace treaty formally ending hostilities. Decades of diplomatic efforts to negotiate a settlement have produced no tangible results. Over the years, Moscow has also strengthened its military presence in the Kurils, in moves that appeared to underscore its firm position in the dispute.