Continued: In the Federation Council responded to protests by Japan over the deployment of the division in the Kuril Islands
The Russian side can use the Kuril Islands to protect the country, including for the deployment of its divisions, said the first Deputy Chairman of the Duma Committee on international Affairs Dmitry Novikov. His words leads RIA Novosti.
“We believe that this issue (the Kuril Islands) is solved, and since it is Russian territory, the Russian land, Russia has the right to take any measures to protect this area and use this area for protection of the Russian Federation as a whole”, — said the Deputy.
Thus, in his opinion, the Kuril issue should not be an obstacle for the development of trade-economic and cultural relations between Russia and Japan.
Earlier on Thursday, 23 February, Secretary-General of the Cabinet of Ministers of Japan Acehide Suga said that the government sent through diplomatic channels, protests in connection with the plans of the Russian Ministry of defense place during the year, the division on the Kuril Islands. However, as noted Suga, Tokyo “stands for continuation of talks on the issue of these Islands and find a mutually acceptable solution”.
On Wednesday, Russian defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, speaking in the Duma, said that active work on the protection of the Kuril Islands continues. “There we [in 2017] must be placed in the division”, he added.
In November 2016, it was reported that the Kuril Islands was the latest shore-based missile complexes “Ball” (Kunashir) and “Bastion” (Iturup).
Tokyo is disputing the ownership of Islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri, Shikotan and the Habomai group.