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Russia-Japan dispute over Kuril Islands

Moscow says will not heed Tokyo's position of trips to Kuril Islands by Russian ministers

"We would like to recall we do not plan taking account of the Japanese government members' opinions as we arrange the itineraries for members of the government," the ministry said in a statement

MOSCOW, August 22. /TASS/. Russian government members will continue making trips to the Kuril Islands and Moscow has no plans to take account of the Japanese authorities' position on the issue, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday after Japan lodged a protest over Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev's visit to one of four Pacific islands it also claims.

"We would like to recall we do not plan taking account of the Japanese government members' opinions as we arrange the itineraries for members of the government," the ministry said in a statement. "These trips, including the one that government officials make as part of a federal programme for social and economic development of the Kuril Islands (the Sakhalin region), will continue," it added.

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Dispute over Kuril Islands

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