MOSCOW, August 7 (RIA Novosti) - Tokyo does not link Moscow's rejection of Japanese humanitarian aid for the Kuril Islands with recent legislation on the disputed territories passed by Japan's parliament, the Japanese Embassy said on Friday.

"We see no connection between Russia's decision and the amendments to the law," a spokesperson for the embassy in Moscow said, adding that the Japanese side accepted completely Russia's explanation concerning the issue.

The Russian Foreign Ministry notified the Japanese Embassy that it would no longer accept humanitarian assistance for the South Kuril Islands as the improved situation on the islands had rendered the aid unnecessary.

The ministry expressed Russia's "heartfelt gratitude" for the assistance, which "helped to overcome social and economical problems in the South Kuril Islands, aggravated by the destructive earthquake in 1994."

The Japanese parliament recognized the four southern islands of the Kuril chain as "historical" Japanese territory on July 3. Russia's upper house of parliament retaliated by asking the president to consider ending the visa-free travel regime between Japan and the islands, which has been in force since 1992.

The dispute over the islands has so far prevented Russia and Japan from signing a formal World War II peace treaty. The islands were annexed by the Soviet Union at the end of the war.