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Russia-Japan dispute over Kuril Islands

Japan, Russia to consider opening flights to South Kuril Islands

Russian President Vladimir Putin has earlier suggested introducing a regime of free border movement for citizens of Russia’s Sakhalin Region and Japan’s Hokkaido Island

TOKYO, March 20. /TASS/. Japan and Russia will consider arranging flights to the South Kuril Islands, Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said at a said at a press conference following Russian-Japanese two-plus-two talks on Monday.

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Moscow prepares projects on southern Kurils in accordance with Russia’s laws

"Regarding former inhabitants of the islands visiting graves of their relatives, we have confirmed that we would coordinate establishing several entry and exit points, and consider a possibility of visiting the four islands by air," he said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has earlier suggested introducing a regime of free border movement for citizens of Russia’s Sakhalin Region and Japan’s Hokkaido Island during the talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Putin said the sides discussed the issue of allowing visa-free visits for the Japanese citizens, who used to be the citizens of the South Kuril Islands.

According to Putin, the foreign ministries of both countries were tasked to discuss the possibility of simplifying the procedure of visits for Japanese citizens to the graves of their relatives on the Kuril Islands taking into account Abe’s request.

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Dispute over Kuril Islands

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