Japan strongly urges nationals not to visit Russian-held islands+

TOKYO, Sept. 3 Kyodo -
The Japanese government decided Friday to strongly urge its nationals to
refrain from visiting Russian-held islands claimed by Japan with Russian visas,
in the wake of a recent series of trips to the disputed isles by Japanese
businessmen and tourists.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku told a press conference that the recent
cases ''give the wrong impression to the general public that they can freely
enter the Northern Territories and cause a problem with other Japanese who
refrain from visiting the islands by adhering to a 1989 Cabinet agreement.''
Such trips could also be interpreted as Japan's acceptance of the status quo of
Russian rule and ''cast a damper on efforts by Japanese who have ardently
worked to settle the issue for more than 65 years since the end of World War
II,'' the top government spokesman said.
Based on the 1989 Cabinet decision, which is not legally binding, the Japanese
government has been urging its citizens to refrain from obtaining Russian visas
to visit the four disputed islands, called the Northern Territories in Japan,
as such action effectively recognizes Russia's sovereignty over the islands.
The islands of Kunashiri, Etorofu and Shikotan as well as the Habomai islet
group -- known in Russia as the Southern Kurils -- were seized by the Soviets
in the closing days of World War II.
The territorial row has prevented the two countries from concluding a
post-World War II peace treaty.
Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada urged other ministers in a Cabinet meeting
Friday to warn Japanese companies that plan to visit the islands with Russian
visas against doing so.
He told a press conference later in the day that Japanese firms should not do
business in the Russian-administered islands by obtaining Russian visas in
order to compete with firms from other countries, saying it would suggest that
Japan has given up on its territorial claim.
A group of Japanese tourists visited Kunashiri and Etorofu islands last month
on a sightseeing tour organized by a Japanese travel agency. Two Japanese
businessmen also made a trip to Etorofu in July.
==Kyodo
2010-09-03 23:32:50