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Diplomat comments on deployment of Su-35 fighter jets on Iturup

The Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman stresses the deployment of Russia’s Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets on Iturup is not aimed at destabilizing relations with Tokyo

MOSCOW, August 9. /TASS/. The deployment of Russia’s Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets on Iturup is not aimed at destabilizing relations with Tokyo and destabilizing the region, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told a briefing on Thursday.

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"Russia’s activity proceeds in line with our defense and foreign policy. It is not aggressive and is not aimed at destabilizing relations - bilateral relations with Japan and in the region on the whole," the diplomat said.

She stressed that Russia’s activity on its own territory is open. "Our colleagues are informed about that, we answer their questions. In this case, explanations were given at all levels," Zakharova added.

Earlier, Japan’s media reported that Su-35S fighter jets had been deployed on Iturup. On Monday, Tokyo voiced its protest to Russia.

Moscow and Tokyo have held negotiations for many decades in an effort to hammer out a peace deal on the outcome of World War II. The main obstacle is the southern part of the Kuril Islands. At the end of WWII, the archipelago became part of the Soviet Union, but Japan is claiming Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan and a group of islets, which it calls Habomai. The Russian Foreign Ministry repeatedly stated that Russian sovereignty over these islands is indisputable and that it is based on corresponding international documents.

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