On February 3, Russian Ambassador to Japan Mikhail Galuzin responded to criticism from his American counterpart Rahm Emanuel. Emanuel reproached Moscow for “threats” against Tokyo about the ownership of the Kuril Islands.
Emanuel criticized Galuzin’s words, saying that the Russian ambassador chose “the wrong moment” for this statement. Emanuel recalled that on January 31, Japan celebrates the Day of the Northern Territories. “Northern Territories” Tokyo calls the South Kuriles, which are part of Russia.
“The timing is right. For those who may not yet know the Russian position: Russia does not recognize illegal territorial claims to our South Kuriles and, accordingly, the “festivities” associated with this, Galuzin noted in Twitter.
As the Russian ambassador stated, “the transfer of the above-mentioned territories to the Soviet Union is clearly fixed in the Yalta Agreement of 1945, signed by the USSR, the USA and Great Britain as allies in their war against Nazi Germany and its ally, militaristic Japan.”
A day earlier, during a press conference, Galuzin said that the statements of the Japanese authorities about the intra-Ukrainian conflict do not contribute to “creating a positive atmosphere” in relations between Tokyo and Moscow. Russia has never held negotiations with Japan on the ownership of the South Kuril Islands, the diplomat added.
On December 2, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said that the problem of a peace treaty with Russia should not be passed on to future generations. The head of the Japanese Cabinet expressed regret that the issue of the South Kuril Islands has not yet been resolved and a peace treaty with the Russian Federation has not been signed. According to him, this problem is a “struggle with time.”
As a result of World War II, Russia and Japan never signed a peace treaty. The main snag in reaching agreements is Tokyo’s claims to the South Kuriles. Japan still calls the islands of Kunashir, Iturup and a number of territories of the Lesser Kuril ridge its northern territories, although as a result of the Second World War they passed to the USSR.
Source: IZ
Jane Stock is a technology author, who has written for 24 Hours World. She writes about the latest in technology news and trends, and is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve his audience’s experience.
