Japan has rejected a proposal by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to create a joint economic zone on the disputed Kuril Islands, Japan's Deputy Foreign Minister Takeaki Matsumoto said on Monday.
"The Northern Territories are our land. [Medvedev's proposal] does not suit the Japanese interests," Matsumoto said at a press conference in Tokyo commenting on the Russian president's statement.
Medvedev said on Friday in an end-of-year live television interview that Russia was ready to cooperate with Japan but would not give up the disputed Kuril Islands, which he said are Russian territory.
Instead he proposed developing joint economic projects with Japan. "We may think of establishing a joint economic zone, a free trade zone," Medvedev said hinting that the Japanese nationals could arrive and work in the region.
In November, Medvedev became the first Russian or Soviet leader to visit one of the Kuril Islands (called the Northern Territories in Japan). The Kremlin said the Russian president could travel freely around his own country, and does not have to share his travel plans with anybody.
Japan fired its ambassador to Russia for failure to timely inform Tokyo about the visit. Medvedev expressed regret that his visit led to the Japanese ambassador's recall.
Both Japan and Russia have laid claims to the islands since they were annexed by the Soviet Union at the end of World War II. The dispute has prevented the two countries from signing a peace treaty to formally end World War II hostilities.
TOKYO, December 27 (RIA Novosti)
