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Russia will not consult Japan on leaders’ trips to Kuril Islands
Published: 29 October, 2010, 15:57
RIA Novosti / Vladimir Rodionov / POOL
TAGS: Conflict, Meeting, Military, Scandal, Medvedev, Asia, Russia, Accident, Protest, Politics, History
Russia will not negotiate its president’s visits to the disputed Southern Kuril Islands with Japan, a Kremlin official has stressed.
Moscow is not obliged to negotiate President Dmitry Medvedev’s trips to Russian regions with anyone, the source told Interfax news agency on Friday.
Medvedev may visit the islands ahead of the APEC summit he is due to attend in the Japanese city of Yokohama on November 13-14. Tokyo earlier claimed that the possible trip may provoke a negative reaction in Japan.
The Kremlin source said to Interfax, “Do we have to ask Poland for permission to visit Kaliningrad Region?†[from around the mid-15th Century to mid-17th Century the area was under the vassalage of Poland].
He said it is not only ludicrous, but also humiliating for Russians. “Does this mean we must fly to Saratov Region after a visit to Kazakhstan? Does this mean we must fly to Saratov Region after a visit to Kazakhstan?What's the link?" [Kazakhs are currently the second largest ethnic group in the region]
Moscow and Tokyo have not signed a formal peace treaty since 1945, as Japan considers the four Southern Kuril Islands – incorporated by the Soviet Union after World War II – its Northern Territories.
At the end of September, Medvedev announced in the Russian Far Eastern city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky his plans to visit the islands “in the near future†despite Japan’s objections.
“I will fly there by all means,†Medvedev said, describing the Kuril Islands as “a very important region in our country.†He was not able to visit the territory at the time because of bad weather.
Many Japanese regularly visit the islands. However, Japan’s government earlier this week condemned two of its citizens for visiting the disputed islands on Russian visas. Obtaining visas was equal to recognizing Russia’s rule over the islands, the officials said.
Sergey Borisov, RT
29.10.2010, 11:05
1 comment
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I wonder Russian people don't feel ashamed themselves about their government act like a thief? Japan and Soviet troops had concluded a nonaggression treaty at the time of WW2 but after Japan got nuclear bomb and surrendered, suddenly Soviet troops came to invade kuril islands. What other words are more appropriate than “thief” ? The act what Russian government doing breaks the peace of this world. It is the time to consider the Justice to make the world more better.
It looks Kuril Islands are just becoming due challenges demanding RF to define its multi-polar structure. Briefly - missing is Reykjavik on the Far East side. In this regard Medvedev’s visit announced the engagement of Russia and Japan as de facto achieved. This is god news because the schedule does not procrastinate. Geopolitically Japan – China – Koreas and Russia form the political plexus of multi-polar body. Japan was never offered higher significance. Very deservedly!
Tod, You really need to read a (honest) history book . The Japanese launched war against Tsarist Russia in 1904 to grab territory, a continuation of the Imperial Japanese push into China and ongoing domination of Korea. Russia lost badly, and was forced to yield its access to Port Arthur, and lost the southern half of Sakhalin Island. The point here is that the Japanese unilaterally abrogated the Treaty of Saint Peterberg 1875, where Tsarist Russia recognised Japanese soverignty over the Kurils (and withdrew its colonies) in exchange for Japanese recognition of Russia rights over Sakhalin. Japanese agression negated the treaty, and it took 40 years before the Soviets could reassert their claims. The morale of this story is that if your commit agression against your neighbours, and then lose, the loss of territory is a real possibility. Germany has permanently lost sovereignty over her traditional eastern baltic territories, and you don't hear Angela Merkel whining constantly and demanding the return of Danzig (now Gdansk) and Pomeranian in Western Poland...