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Russia-Japan dispute over Kuril Islands

Kremlin denies Russia and Japan discussed joint administration of Kuril Islands

Vladimir Putin's spokesman has also commented on reports saying Tokyo was allegedly ready to call off the claim on some of the disputed islands

© Sergei Krasnoukhov/TASS

MOSCOW, October 19. /TASS/. Moscow and Tokyo continue consultations to tackle the Kuril issue, avoiding any media hype, Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

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"As for the island dispute, the consultations are in progress, they are difficult, there is no reason for stirring up hype. It is very tedious work demanding a lot of patience," Peskov emphasized, commenting on Japanese media’s reports saying that Japan and Russia are discussing the possibility of jointly administrating the disputed Kuril islands. The reports also said that Tokyo was allegedly ready to call off the claim on some of the disputed islands.

Peskov called these reports "information infusions" pointing out that often times the Japanese authorities refute reports like these.

The Russian presidential spokesman noted that Moscow and Tokyo were focusing on an economic development plan, in his words, "there is a number of specific projects concerning trade, economic and investment cooperation." "We are satisfied with it. Moscow is ready and willing to follow the path of development, structuring and improving the efficiency of economic cooperation, which is what we will do," Peskov concluded.

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Foreign policy Dispute over Kuril Islands

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