Russia Lodges Protest to Japan Envoy over Disputed Island

Tokyo, Aug. 18 (Jiji Press)–Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin on Tuesday summoned Japanese Ambassador to Russia Akira Muto and expressed Moscow’s resolute protest over remarks by Japanese officials on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit last week to a disputed northwestern Pacific island. Meanwhile, Muto said that he explained Tokyo’s stance on the issue to the Russian side in an appropriate manner. Putin visited the island of Etorofu, one of the four islands claimed by Tokyo but controlled by Moscow, on Thursday. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said the trip was “absolutely unacceptable,” drawing criticism from Russia. Galuzin said that Russia’s sovereignty over the islands, called the southern Kuril Islands in Russia and the Northern Territories in Japan, is unwavering, reiterating Moscow’s claim that the islands became Russian territory as a result of World War II. Referring to Japan’s sanctions against Russia and support for Ukraine, he also said that Russia reserved the right to take appropriate countermeasures. According to the Japanese Embassy in Moscow, Muto explained Tokyo’s stance on the disputed islands and Putin’s trip to Etorofu, while Moscow voiced its position on Japan’s protests against the Russian leader’s visit. The embassy did not disclose details of the exchange. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday that he had called in the Japanese ambassador to the Russian Foreign Ministry. After being summoned, Muto left the ministry building without responding to questions from reporters. He was at the ministry for about 25 minutes, according to Russia’s state-run Tass news agency. Journalists flocked to the area near the ministry building, and a man believed to be an activist shouted at Muto that the Kurils, an island chain that Russia claims includes the disputed islands, are Russian. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]