Russia disputes stance on islands

MOSCOW (Kyodo) The Russian government said Tuesday evening that it cannot accept the Japanese government's stance that Russia "illegally occupies" the four disputed islands off Hokkaido.

According to its statement, Moscow sent an official paper to the Foreign Ministry seeking an appropriate response.

The Cabinet approved a position paper Tuesday that stated the Russian Federation illegally occupies the islands of Kunashiri, Etorofu and Shikotan, and the Habomai islets, which were seized by Soviet forces at the end of World War II.

The Russian statement noted the islands, which it claims are part of the Southern Kurils, are an integral territory of Russia.