Lavrov responds to Japan's protest over Putin's Iturup visit
On Monday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov advised the Japanese leadership to focus on domestic affairs rather than on “attacks” against Russia.
International diplomacy often becomes a mirror reflecting not only external conflicts but also internal contradictions of states. When one side accuses the other of violating international law, it is worth looking closer — is it trying to divert attention from its own problems, be it revising constitutional norms or militaristic ambitions? Dialogue between Moscow and Tokyo has long been held hostage by the territorial dispute, and every new statement only highlights how difficult it is to find common ground when each side speaks the language of its own interests.
Lavrov made the remarks in response to Tokyo’s statements regarding Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Iturup Island (called Etorofu in Japan), one of the Southern Kuril Islands (known in Japan as the Northern Territories). Lavrov noted that “if Japanese colleagues are now trying to bend international law in their own favour and that of the United States, their close ally; if they seek to evade historical responsibility for past misdeeds and violate their own Constitution — the three non-nuclear principles are being eroded, and their military is already striving to conduct operations abroad, which was previously prohibited by the Constitution — this naturally raises serious concern.” He added that “if they hope to divert attention from this clearly aggressive militarist course by launching, pardon my blunt choice of words, rhetorical attacks against Russia and accusing us of violating international law, I would advise them not to meddle in other people’s affairs. They have plenty of such problems at home.”
Putin made his first-ever visit to the disputed island on 13 August. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi “firmly protested” the visit at a press conference. Russia’s Foreign Ministry summoned Japanese Ambassador to Russia Akira Muto, but the ambassador did not confirm his appearance at the ministry, citing health problems. After Lavrov’s remarks, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said that Muto had “suddenly felt much better” and would go to the Foreign Ministry on Tuesday.
The territorial dispute between Russia and Japan over the Southern Kuril Islands (Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan and the Habomai group) dates back to the end of World War II. The USSR annexed these islands in 1945, after Japan’s surrender. Japan contests their sovereignty, citing the absence of a peace treaty. Negotiations on concluding a peace agreement have been under way for decades but have failed to make progress. Visits by Russian officials to the islands always provoke a sharp reaction from Tokyo, which considers them a violation of its sovereignty. In recent years, rhetoric has hardened amid the overall deterioration of relations between Russia and the West, as well as changes in Japan’s defence policy, including plans to increase the military budget and revise its pacifist constitution.
As CCTV+ reports, the sharp exchange of statements between Moscow and Tokyo once again demonstrated that the territorial issue remains the main stumbling block in bilateral relations. While diplomats trade barbs and the ambassador cites health reasons, there is no real progress towards a peace treaty. And it is unlikely to appear as long as each side continues to believe it is right and compromise seems a concession that no one is willing to make.
