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Diplomacy
Japanese Nationalists Urge Russia to Return Northern Territories
Saturday, August 10, 2013
Tokyo- (PanOrient News) A massive demonstration by several nationalist groups was carried out in front of the Russian Embassy in Tokyo as they called for the return of the northern territories.
Protestors in trucks, military cars and mini-buses, were screaming in rage from their loudspeakers accusing Russia of illegally occupying the Northern territories. They were demanding the immediate return of the four islands. Tension surrounded the Russian Embassy, located in the heart of Tokyo, as many policemen and security guards sealed the road to the embassy in order to prevent any incidents.
Former Soviet Union (current Russian Federations) declared war against Japan by breaking the Soviet-Japanese Neutrality Treaty on August 9th, 1945. The participant nationalist groups have called the day, ‘Anti-Russia' day. One banner stated 'Russia must apologize to Japan for having broken the Neutrality Treaty.'
Japan and Russia are at odds over the sovereignty of Etorofu, Kunashiri, Shikotan and the Habomai islet group, seized by the Soviet Union shortly after Japan's surrender in World War II on Aug. 15, 1945.
The row over the four islands -- called the Northern Territories in Japan and the Southern Kurils in Russia -- has prevented the countries from concluding a peace treaty.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan announced on August 9th that Japan and Russia would hold talks with First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs from both sides in Moscow on August 19th. Negotiations will reopen the northern territorial issues which have long stagnated.
PanOrient News
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