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Russia Not to Transfer Kuriles to Japan: Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Sunday that Moscow recognizes the presence of territorial problem with Tokyo, but will not transfer the Kuriles Islands to Japan.
Putin made the remarks in Russia's Far East city of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk on Sunday morning before leaving for Tokyo for a three-day official visit, Russian media reported.
"Russia recognizes there is territorial problem between Russia and Japan, but there is no question of turning over the Kuriles," he told reporters.
"We admit the presence of the problem, but no more than that," he stressed.
He noted that Moscow never stated intentions to hand over these islands to Japan and is just negotiating with Tokyo over the dispute.
The dispute over the sovereignty of the Kuriles, which Japan calls "Four North Islands," has had a negative influence on the development of the Russian-Japan relations for a long time. It has been the biggest obstacle for the two countries to conclude a peace treaty since the end of the World War II.
Observers say the two sides will hardly achieve any progress in this issue during Putin's visit to Japan.
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