http://en.apa.az/news.php?id=111557
Azeri Press Agency November 24, 2009 Japan officially declares Russia aggressor state Tokyo: The Japanese government has officially recognized Russia as an aggressor state, APA reports. Following four-day discussions, the government adopted a document confirming that Russian Federation occupied the South Kuril Islands. “The Russian Federation continues occupying the four northern islands. Under these circumstances, our citizens can not travel to these islands, because of Russia’s territorial claims. Russia’s position does not coincide with our position on the northern territories and there is no change in this situation,” the document says. According to the document, Tokyo allows Japanese to travel to South Kuril Islands to visit graves and relatives within the framework of a visa-free exchange. The Kuril Islands were put under the control of the USSR after World War II. Japan continues claiming the four islands. Though the two countries signed a declaration to end the war in 1956, a peace agreement has not been signed yet. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://en.rian.ru/russia/20091124/156968809.html Russian Information Agency Novosti November 24, 2009 Japan's position on Kuril Islands 'counterproductive' Moscow: The Japanese government's position on the South Kuril Islands is counterproductive to dialogue on the territorial issue, a senior Russian MP said on Tuesday. Responding to a parliamentary query earlier in the day, the Japanese government reiterated that "the Russian Federation is illegally occupying four northern islands." Konstantin Kosachyov, head of the international affairs committee in the lower house of the Russian parliament, said the Japanese position is "an attempt to exert pressure on the Russian Federation and obtain concessions." Tokyo's continued claim over four South Kuril Islands, Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan, and Habomai, has so far prevented Russia and Japan from signing a formal peace treaty to end World War II hostilities. =========================== Stop NATO http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stopnato Blog site: http://rickrozoff.wordpress.com/ To subscribe, send an e-mail to: [email protected] or [email protected] Daily digest option available. ==============================
