Moscow: Russia is putting an escalating
territorial spat with Japan on hold to prepare extra energy
supplies and provide manpower for the earthquake and tsunami
relief effort.
The second of two Russian planes with rescuers and
nuclear experts aboard was dispatched to Japan Monday, and
Russian officials are readying extra liquefied natural gas and
coal to compensate for Japan`s nuclear outages.
A group of islands Russia calls the Kurils and Japan
the Northern Territories have been a consistent irritant.
Tensions rose sharply after Dmitry Medvedev in
November became the first Russian president to visit the
islands and Russia made subsequent vows to base military
hardware there.
A Kremlin youth group said Monday it had called off a
protest against Japan`s claims planned to the islands for
Tuesday.
Bureau Report
