Medvedev vows to deploy sufficient weapons in disputed islands

Xinhua, February 10, 2011

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Wednesday ordered the deployment of sufficient weaponry to secure the disputed Southern Kuril islands, local media reported.

Calling the islands, also claimed by Japan, "an integral territory of the Russian Federation," Medvedev said Russia would take all the necessary efforts to strengthen its presence there because the island chain is a strategic region.

"The additional weapons to be deployed there must be sufficient and modern, in order to ensure the security of the islands as an integral part of Russia," he was quoted as telling Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov in a meeting.

The president added that Russia would like to develop good relations with all its neighbors and cooperate with willing partners on a number of facilities on the islands.

Also on Wednesday, the Russian Foreign Ministry criticized Japanese leaders' "unfriendly remarks" to Russia, saying the words will significantly damage the atmosphere of the two countries' talks for a peace treaty.

"Atmosphere of the dialogue has been seriously damaged by the certain events on the so-called Northern Territories Day and those very unfriendly remarks addressed to Russia by the Japanese leadership," said ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich.

"We expect our Japanese counterparts will change their attitude toward Russia fundamentally," Lukashevich added.

Russia and Japan have long been at odds over the sovereignty of the four Pacific islands, which are known to the Japanese as the Northern Territories.

In November, Medvedev became the first Russian leader to visit the disputed islands. Japan temporarily recalled its ambassador from Moscow to protest Medvedev's visit.