Tokyo: The Japanese Foreign Ministry has withdrawn the government document that states that the Southern Kuriles are under "Russia's illegal occupation".
Yesterday, the Foreign Ministry said that one of the
unapproved versions of the draft answer to the Parliament
inquiry was sent to mass media mistakenly.
Commenting on the document withdrawal, Kyodo news agency
noted that the step was of an unprecedented character and the
case indicated careless handling of documents in the ministry.
The ministry said the spread of authorities' unapproved
answer was an incredible mistake requiring an apology.
Japanese mass media reported yesterday the government
that day had approved the document reading the Southern
Kuriles were under Russia's illegal occupation.
The written answer was passed at the cabinet meeting in
response to the official inquiry of the chairman of the lower
house's foreign affairs commission. It was explained in the
comments that the legislator made the inquiry in connection
with the statement the transport minister made during his trip
to the north of Hokkaido Island on October 17 that Southern
Kuriles were Japan's historic territories "under Russia's
illegal occupation".
The Parliament Commission chairman after the minister's
trip repeatedly denounced the statement. It is not
manifestation of the right understanding of the situation.
Such words send a wrong signal. It is a senseless energy
discharge, he said in a recent interview to Itar-Tass.
PTI
First Published: Saturday, November 21, 2009, 18:48