Japan has sent Russia a protest over plans to place a division on the Kuril Islands
The Secretary-General of the Japanese government Yoshihide Suga called the unfortunate likely strengthen its military presence on the Kuril Islands, adding that this is contrary to the position of Tokyo.
TOKYO, 23 Feb — RIA Novosti, Yekaterina Plyasunova. The Japanese government sent through diplomatic channels protest of Russia after the head of the defense Ministry Sergei Shoigu about Moscow’s intention to place the division on the Kuril Islands in 2017, said General Secretary of the Japanese government, Acehide Suga.
“The protest was directed through diplomatic channels 22 and 23. Sadly, if the armed forces of Russia will strengthen military presence in the Northern territories (so in Japan called the South Kuril Islands). This is contrary to the position of our state,” — said Suga at a press conference.
The Russian defense Minister, speaking in the state Duma, said Wednesday that the Agency expects “this year to finish the placement of the three divisions on the Western and southwestern border.” In particular, he stressed that “continues active work on the protection of the Kuril Islands”, where this year also “must be placed in the division”.
Japan claims the southern Kuril Islands — Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan and Habomai archipelago. The transfer of these Islands to Japan made it a condition of signing a peace Treaty with Russia, which after the Second world war and was not signed.
The position of Moscow consists that southern Kuriles became part of the Soviet Union at the end of the Second world war and the Russian sovereignty over them has the appropriate international legal formalization.