Medvedev May Visit Disputed Northwestern Pacific Islands

Moscow, July 23 (Jiji Press)--Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev signaled the possibility on Thursday of visiting northwestern Pacific islands at the center of a territorial dispute with Japan. Speaking at a government meeting, Medvedev said he plans to visit the Kuril islands. He did not mention what island he will visit and when. Medvedev visited Kunashiri, one of the four disputed islands, in November 2010 when he was Russian president. The trip made him the first Russian head of state to land on one of the disputed islands. He visited Kunashiri again in July 2012 as Russian prime minister. The Japanese embassy in Moscow on Thursday expressed concerns about Medvedev's plans and asked the Russian Foreign Ministry to cancel the trip. It is uncertain whether Medvedev will risk affecting Moscow's relations with Tokyo with the planned trip as Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to visit Japan by the end of this year. END