Russia to demand punishment for Japanese radicals who desecrated flag

[6642.CN]

Russia to demand punishment for Japanese radicals who desecrated flag

The Russian embassy in Tokyo is preparing a note to the Japanese foreign ministry demanding to launch criminal investigation into the recent desecration of the Russian flag, a diplomat said.

Japanese right-wing campaigners dragged the Russian flag along the ground outside the Russian Embassy in Tokyo on February 7, demanding the return of a group of disputed Pacific islands. The embassy sent a protest note to the Japanese Foreign Ministry just after the incident.

Later that day, the Russian embassy in Tokyo had also received an envelope containing a bullet and a letter which said "The Northern Territories are Japanese land."

"We are preparing a note demanding criminal action against individuals who desecrated the Russian Flag, according to article 92 of the Japanese criminal code," the source said.

The Russian diplomat added that situation in Tokyo "remains tense" as "Japanese radicals continue to send various insulting mails to Russian institutions."

Both Japan and Russia have laid claims to the South Kuril Islands, called the Northern Territories by the Japanese, since they were annexed by the Soviet Union at the end of World War II. The dispute has prevented the two countries from signing a peace treaty to formally end hostilities.

The sparsely populated islands in dispute are in the Kuril chain between Japan's northern island of Hokkaido and Russia's far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula, with the closest just 15 km (9 miles) from Hokkaido.

Tensions escalated since Russian President Dmitry Medvedev visited one of the disputed islands on November 2010 last year. Japanese Premier Naoto Kan called the visit an "inexcusable rudeness."

The Northern Territories Day is marked annually in Japan on February 7. Every year, right-wing activists cruise the streets in vans equipped with loudspeakers to play nationalist music and chants.

TOKYO, February 22 (RIA Novosti)

Russia to demand punishment for Japanese radicals who desecrated flag | World | RIA Novosti

 

[cross1993]

Russia received the support of Korea and China.
Japan govt diplomatic capability is too bad.

 

[Tractor]

Reminding Falkland Islands.May war happen?Perhaps no for one side is small pitiable Japanese.

 

[6642.CN]

Japan's Mainichi reports from Tokyo...

Maehara rebuffs Russia's warning over isle row

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara rebuffed Tuesday a warning by a high-ranking Russian official that it would become "pointless" to continue bilateral talks over disputed islands off Hokkaido if Tokyo maintains a hard-line approach.

Maehara told a news conference that he agreed with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Moscow on Friday that the two countries will continue negotiating on the territorial dispute "based on past agreements and documents, as well as law and justice."

"Whatever remarks are made, that stance will be upheld by the two countries," he said.

Sergei Naryshkin, chief of staff of the Russian Presidential Executive Office, told Maehara on Saturday in the Russian capital that "anti-Russia statements" by senior Japanese officials would make it meaningless for the two countries to continue dialogue on the territorial issue, according to Japanese officials.

Naryshkin was apparently referring to Prime Minister Naoto Kan's remarks last week that described Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's visit to one of the four disputed islands last November as "an unforgivable outrage."

Lavrov also put pressure on Japan on Tuesday, saying unless Tokyo recognizes the outcome of World War II, bilateral negotiations on the territorial dispute would lose their meaning, according to the Interfax news agency.

Maehara said at the press conference he had conveyed to Naryshkin Japan's "extreme regret" over visits by Medvedev and other senior Russian officials to the disputed islands and remarks by high-ranking officials that Russia will continue to control the area as part of its territory.

The Japanese foreign minister also said Kan represented "the feelings of many Japanese people" on the territorial row, noting that many Japanese have been "indignant at" the visits by Russian officials.

Maehara reiterated that the islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri and Shikotan as well as the Habomai islet group are an "integral part of Japan in terms of history and international law."

The islands, known as the Northern Territories in Japan and as the Southern Kurils in Russia, were seized by the Soviet Union following Japan's surrender in World War II on Aug. 15, 1945. The territorial dispute has prevented the two countries from signing a postwar peace treaty.

Medvedev visited Kunashiri last November, becoming the first leader of Russia or the Soviet Union to travel to the disputed territory.

(Mainichi Japan) February 16, 2011

Maehara rebuffs Russia's warning over isle row - The Mainichi Daily News

 

[6642.CN]

Can anyone tell me whether Japan has any effective defense system against the S-400, as it seems Russia will soon deploy them on Kurils?

The deployment of advanced medium-range S-400 Triumf missile systems on the disputed Kuril Islands would be excessive and potentially dangerous as they can reach Japanese territory, a Russian military commander said on Wednesday.

Shorter range Buk (SA-11 Gadfly) systems should be sufficient for the purpose, Maj. Gen. Sergei Popov, chief of the Air Force Antiaircraft and Missile Troops, said.

"Given the proximity of the state border, it is inexpedient to deploy a Space Defense Force brigade with S-400 systems on the Kuril Islands," he said.

A high-ranking official in the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces said on Tuesday Moscow would deploy reinforcements with short- to long-range air defense missile systems, including the advanced S-400 Triumf system, to the southern Kuril Islands to protect Russia's sovereignty in the Far East.

President Dmitry Medvedev said last week the islands' security must be ensured with modern weaponry.

A dispute over the islands, called the Northern Territories in Japan, has prevented Russia and Japan from signing a peace treaty to officially end World War Two hostilities. The islands were seized by Soviet forces at the end of the conflict.

The issue came to the fore again last November after Medvedev's visit to Kunashir, the second-largest of the four islands.

Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan called Medvedev's visit to Kunashir an "inexcusable rudeness," sparking an angry reaction from Moscow.

S-400 missiles on Russia's Kuril Islands 'overkill' | Russia | RIA Novosti

 

[cross1993]

USA also announced that they do not interfere in the four northern islands.
May only Georgia is support for Japan.

Maehara is a fool.
Japan has the ability to recover the four northern islands, but Maehara did not know how to do.

 

[6642.CN]

another thing I would like to know from indian members whether their govt and public support Japan or Russia? my personal source informed me that india would support Russia though I can't confirm its authenticity right now.

Note: india was an ally of the former Soviet.

Opinions with logic are welcome.

 

[6642.CN]

USA also announced that they do not interfere in the four northern islands.

nothing surprising, Japanese should have known that.

 

[Abhishek_]

another thing I would like to know from indian members whether their govt and public support Japan or Russia? my personal source informed me that india would support Russia though I can't confirm its authenticity right now.

Note: india was an ally of the former Soviet.

Opinions with logic are welcome.

it is a matter between russia & japan. GOI and most indian members are not bothered by it.
Let the concerned parties resolve the matter between themselves.

 

[GUNS-N- ROSES]

another thing I would like to know from indian members whether their govt and public support Japan or Russia? my personal source informed me that india would support Russia though I can't confirm its authenticity right now.

Note: india was an ally of the former Soviet.

Opinions with logic are welcome.

its tricky situation for india. india has been long term partner of soviet union and we r together working on PAK-FA. india is also negotiating with JAPAN for assistance in the field of nuclear reactors. i think india govt will stay on fence and adopt a neutral line.

here it goes " WE WANT THE TWO NATIONS TO SIT ACCROSS THE TABLE AND DISCUSS ISSUES IN A PEACEFULL MANNER".

 

[tallboy123]

Gun you're right,
we need both russia and japan..
We wish they solve this problem peacefully..
This issue is not based on religion or terrorist attacks by each other..
Russia is strategically important to japan and vice versa..
I hope soon this issue gets solved peacefully

 

[Nomenclature]

Russia received the support of Korea and China.
Japan govt diplomatic capability is too bad.

I wouldn't say China is now supporting Russia. We're neutral on this dispute, which is actually some kind of diplomatic victory for Russia as we used to be more pro-Japan.

 

[cross1993]

I wouldn't say China is now supporting Russia. We're neutral on this dispute, which is actually some kind of diplomatic victory for Russia as we used to be more pro-Japan.

China and Korea have decided to cooperate with Russia, investment in the four northern islands.

 

[prototype]

As of now who controll Kuril Islands?

 

[Dalai Lama]

As of now who controll Kuril Islands?

Russia do.