pravda 15.03.2011
H Επίσκεψη του Μεντβέντεφ στην Kurils ρίχνει περισσότερο λάδι στη φωτιά της εδαφικής διαφοράς μεταξύ των δύο χωρών. Στις αρχές Φεβρουαρίου, ο Ιάπωνας Πρωθυπουργός χαρακτήρισε την επίσκεψη του Μεντβέντεφ για τα νησιά "απαράδεκτη αγένεια."
Many thought that the relations between Russia and Japan would improve considerably after the devastating earthquake and tsunami. However, the two countries continue to exchange calculated shots with each other regarding the Kuril Islands issue. Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov showed a harsh response to new statements from a Japanese official about the islands.
Jaspan's Ambassador to Moscow Masaharu Kono
said easier that the national tragedy in Japan would not exert any
influence on the solution of the territorial dispute between Russia and
Japan. On Tuesday, Moscow made a tough move in response. Russia's
Foreign Minister Lavrov stated yet again that visiting the Kuril Islands
was solely an internal matter of the Russian Federation.
"As for visiting the islands, it is our
inalienable right and solely an internal affair. We won't discuss that
with anyone," Lavrov stated in an interview with Japan's NHK. Moreover,
Lavrov added, Russia would not be following anyone's recommendations as
to what places of Russia the president of Russia can visit.
The current situation in Japan after the
earthquake and tsunami is catastrophic. The number of victims and
missing people has exceeded 7,000 and continues to grow. The government
of the country has officially confirmed the death of 3,079 people. More
than 2,000 suffered injuries as a result of the disaster.
Sergei Lavrov told Japanese
reporters that Dmitry Medvedev inspected the implementation of decisions
about the development of the socio-economic base of Kurile Islands
during his visit there in November of 2010. Those decisions and goals,
Lavrov said, were included in the federal program of the social and
economic development of the Kurils before 2015.
Other members of the Russian government
also visited the islands after Medvedev, Lavrov said. Among others,
Lavrov mentioned Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov: the Kurils are
Russia's border territory.
To crown it all, Sergei Lavrov said that
he personally visited the islands several years ago too. "I saw that
the the people of the Kurils were very interested in building friendship
with Japanese neighbors," he said. "The people are interested in
communication, they want to receive profit from mutually beneficial
commercial activities and other forms of economic cooperation, as well
as from the cultural communication. We still believe that there
shouldn't be any restrictions for those traveling between Japan and all
Kurile Islands," the minister stated.
Medvedev's visit to the Kurils added more fuel to the fire of the territorial dispute
between the two countries. In the beginning of February, Japanese Prime
Minister called Medvedev's visit to the islands "unacceptable
rudeness." Moscow was extremely concerned about the "clearly
non-diplomatic" remarks. The rhetoric will only exacerbate the
relations, Kremlin officials said. Russian politicians and diplomats
were also concerned about the desecration of the Russian flag by
Japanese ultra right forces and demanded apologies.
Japan's Foreign Ministry at first
decided to find an excuse for Kan's statements. Foreign Minister Seiji
Maehara said that the prime minister had expressed his personal attitude
to the problem. A bit later, though, prior to his visit to Moscow, Mr.
Maehara accused Moscow of violating the international law in the
question of the sovereignty of the islands. At the end of February,
Japan refused to persecute its citizens for desecrating the Russian
flag.
Moscow on its part started taking more economic and defense efforts on the Kurils. Medvedev ordered to re-equip the 18th artillery division
on Southern Kurils. Afterwards, it was reported that Russia decided to
send two French-made Mistral helicopter carriers to the islands. It also
transpired that Russia would deploy the Bastion missile complex with
supersonic anti-ship Yakhont cruise missiles.
Japan described Russia's defense activities on the Kurils as "extremely regrettable."
http://english.pravda.ru/russia/politics/15-03-2011/117199-russia_japan-0/
