Russia to never limit its sovereignty over Kuril Islands - Matviyenko

TOKYO, November 1. /TASS/. Russia will never yield to limiting its sovereignty right over the Kuril Islands, the territorial belonging of which may be viewed as disputable by Japan, but not by Russia, Valentina Matviyenko, the speaker of the Federation Council (the Russian parliament’s upper house), said on Monday. A delegation from the Federation Council, led by Matviyenko, is currently paying an official visit to Japan. The delegation’s visit is scheduled to last from October 31 to November 3. Prior to that, Matviyenko visited Sakhalin Region in Russia’s Far East, where she met with local government officials. "As for the Kuril Islands - their (territorial) belonging may be disputable for Japan, but not for Russia," Matviyenko said. "They became our territory after the World War Two and it was registered in international documents. Therefore, Russia’s sovereignty over them is unquestionable." "As Russian leader Vladimir Putin earlier stated we are not trading our territories," she said. "However, we are ready to search for a compromise regarding the issue of the peace treaty, which can be suitable for both sides." According to Matviyenko, it will require "first of all, a realistic approach on behalf of our Japanese partners." "One should realize that there are some things, which Russia would never give up its stance upon," she said. "Limiting Russia’s sovereignty over the Kuril Islands and, moreover, transferring them under the jurisdiction of Japan is one of them." "This is the stance held not only by the Russian leadership, but by the whole nation and we have here, as we say, a complete all-national consensus," Matviyenko said. Russia and Japan have no peace treaty signed after World War II. The settlement of this problem inherited by Russia’s diplomacy from the Soviet Union is hampered by the years-long dispute over the four islands of Russia’s Southern Kurils -- Shikotan, Khabomai, Iturup and Kunashir, which Japan calls its northern territories. After World War II, in September 1945, Japan signed its capitulation, and in February 1946, the Kuril Islands were declared territories of the Soviet Union. During the Cold War, Moscow did not recognize the territorial problem, but in October 1993, when Russian president Boris Yeltsin was on an official visit in Japan, the existence of the problem was confirmed officially. However, the two countries have reached no compromise over the dispute yet. Read more