.Lawmaker calls for not dramatizing envoy recall by Tokyo.

2/11 Tass 228

MOSCOW, November 2 (Itar-Tass) - Head of the committee on
international affairs under the State Duma lower house of the Russian
parliament Konstantin Kosachev calls for "reacting to the recalling of the
Japanese envoy from Moscow calmly, and without emotions." "We should not
dramatize the situation," Kosachev told reporters on Tuesday.
He reminded that Russian-Japanese relations had their ups and downs
for more than one time. "They have accumulated enough substantive elements
that must limit the maneuvers by radical politicians in Japan," he said.
The lawmaker is confident that increased activity on the part of
Russia will only add heat to the attempts to aggravate the territorial
issue.
Kosachev underlined that "for Moscow, there is no territorial issue
regarding the South Kurils. The islands of the Kuril Ridge are an integral
part of Russia; it is the unquestionable result of World War II. Any
discussions on this account are only possible on the condition of the
presence of Russia's goodwill and the understanding of this goodwill by
Japan."
At the same time, the head of the house committee called Japan's
reaction to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's visit to a South Kurils
island "scandalous."
"A scandal is evolving in Russian-Japanese relations exclusively at
Tokyo's initiative," Kosachev stated.
He expressed regret that Moscow's signals about the interest in
developing good neighborly relations with Japan had not been heard in
Tokyo," and, conversely, "were misinterpreted, or understood as weakness
in the settlement of the territorial issues."
"But the imposition, as an ultimatum, of the disputed nature of the
issue of ownership of the Kuril islands will only postpone further
discussion or block it altogether," Kosachev said
The parliamentarian confirmed that the recalling of the ambassador
should not interfere with Russia's participation in the APEC summit in
Yokohama on November 13-14.
"The scope of the summit is far broader than Russian-Japanese
relations. The venue of the summit should not make any influence (upon
Russia's participation)," Kosachev stated.
He noted that the upcoming summit is very important for Russia, so it
should be represented there at top level.
Earlier, Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara said the Japanese
government was recalling Ambassador Masaharu Kono to hear his report on
the trip by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to the South Kurils on
Monday.
On Monday, the Japanese government officially protested the trip.
Russia rejected the protest.
-0-myz/usn