The Russian Foreign Ministry called the mention of the South Kuriles in the “Blue Book of Diplomacy” insignificant

Russia considers the mentions of the South Kuriles in Japan’s Blue Book of Diplomacy for 2023 “insignificant”, since the islands are an integral part of Russia. This was stated in the Russian Foreign Ministry, write “RIA News”.

“We regard such passages as insignificant. The South Kuriles are an integral part of the territory of the Russian Federation on legal, including international, grounds following the results of the Second World War. This is a reality from which Japan cannot escape,” the Foreign Ministry said.

The ministry also noted that such a position of Japan with unfounded territorial claims against Russia is set out in the Blue Book on a regular basis.

Earlier, Japan published an annual report on diplomacy, in which it called the South Kuriles “occupied northern territories.” For the first time since 2011, a definition appeared in the Blue Book that the islands belong to Japan.

Russia and Japan do not have a peace treaty following World War II due to the protracted dispute over the South Kuriles. The state of war between the two countries was officially ended in 1956 after the conclusion of the Moscow Declaration, after which the USSR and Japan resumed diplomatic relations. According to Tokyo’s position, the Russian Federation should hand over to Japan four southern islands of the Kuril chain (Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan, Habomai Islands). Moscow, on the other hand, recognizes the USSR declaration of 1956, which refers to the possibility of transferring the two islands after the conclusion of a peace treaty.

In February, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida spoke of the need to conclude a peace treaty and settle the territorial dispute with Russia. At the same time, he stressed that Tokyo has not changed its position on the issue of ownership of the islands that make up the southern part of the Kuriles. February 10, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova named closed the issue of a peace treaty with Japan, emphasizing the impossibility of negotiations due to the “openly unfriendly” position of Tokyo.