MFA Spokesman Andrei Nesterenko’s Comments in Response to Recent Statement of Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada about “Russia’s Illegal Occupation” of Southern Kurils
1175-03-09-2010
Moscow has taken note of the recent statement of Japan’s Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada, who judging by media reports in his comments on certain issues in Russian-Japanese relations again used the term “illegally occupied by Russia” with reference to the South Kuril Islands.
As has been repeatedly noted, such statements are absolutely unacceptable to us, because the islands are a territory of the Russian Federation in accordance with the generally recognized territorial realities resulting from the outcome of World War Two.
In addition, such rhetoric by Japanese officials is not helpful in developing bilateral cooperation and goes beyond the political correctness adopted in relations between good neighbors.
September 3, 2010
