ID :
158941
Fri, 02/04/2011 - 18:04
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/158941
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Russian defense minister tours disputed islands
VLADIVOSTOK, Russia, Feb. 4 Kyodo - Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov visited Etorofu and Kunashiri islands off Hokkaido on a one-day military inspection trip Friday, Russian defense officials said, brushing aside Japan's repeated requests not to visit the disputed islands that are claimed by Japan and held by Russia.
It is the latest in a series of recent visits to the disputed islands by high-ranking Russian officials, which began with a trip by President Dmitry Medvedev in November, and came before Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara's planned trip to Moscow next week.
Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan described the visit as ''regrettable'' but told reporters he intends to maintain the government's basic stance of resolving the territorial dispute and continuing patient negotiations with Russia.
Serdyukov's tour of the islands is aimed at inspecting the machine gun and artillery division deployed there. He is scheduled to travel to Shikotan Island before returning to Khabarovsk later Friday, according to Russia's Itar-Tass news agency.
The Russian defense minister held a brief meeting with local military officials in the Far Eastern city, where the regional military headquarters is located, before leaving for the disputed islands earlier in the day.
''During the planned trip the minister will inspect combat readiness and material provision of troops, as well as everyday living conditions of servicemen and their families,'' Itar-Tass quoted the press service of the headquarters as saying.
Referring to the latest visit, Maehara said, ''This trip will throw cold water on the two countries' agreement to try to develop bilateral relations.''
Maehara is scheduled to meet with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov during his visit to Moscow from next Thursday and the territorial dispute is likely to top the agenda of their talks.
The Japanese government has been irked by the visits to the disputed islands by Russian officials, including First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov and Regional Development Minister Viktor Basargin.
The three islands, known in Japan as the Northern Territories and in Russia as the Southern Kurils, were seized by the Soviet Union at the end of World War II along with the Habomai islet group.
The dispute has prevented the two countries from signing a postwar peace treaty.
It is the latest in a series of recent visits to the disputed islands by high-ranking Russian officials, which began with a trip by President Dmitry Medvedev in November, and came before Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara's planned trip to Moscow next week.
Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan described the visit as ''regrettable'' but told reporters he intends to maintain the government's basic stance of resolving the territorial dispute and continuing patient negotiations with Russia.
Serdyukov's tour of the islands is aimed at inspecting the machine gun and artillery division deployed there. He is scheduled to travel to Shikotan Island before returning to Khabarovsk later Friday, according to Russia's Itar-Tass news agency.
The Russian defense minister held a brief meeting with local military officials in the Far Eastern city, where the regional military headquarters is located, before leaving for the disputed islands earlier in the day.
''During the planned trip the minister will inspect combat readiness and material provision of troops, as well as everyday living conditions of servicemen and their families,'' Itar-Tass quoted the press service of the headquarters as saying.
Referring to the latest visit, Maehara said, ''This trip will throw cold water on the two countries' agreement to try to develop bilateral relations.''
Maehara is scheduled to meet with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov during his visit to Moscow from next Thursday and the territorial dispute is likely to top the agenda of their talks.
The Japanese government has been irked by the visits to the disputed islands by Russian officials, including First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov and Regional Development Minister Viktor Basargin.
The three islands, known in Japan as the Northern Territories and in Russia as the Southern Kurils, were seized by the Soviet Union at the end of World War II along with the Habomai islet group.
The dispute has prevented the two countries from signing a postwar peace treaty.
