Russia's FC prepares tough response to Japan's law on Kuriles

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3/7 Tass 336

MOSCOW, July 3 (Itar-Tass) - The Federation Council will make "a tough
statement" on July 7 that will be Russia's response to Tokyo's law
declaring the South Kuril Islands as "an integral part" of Japan, the
speaker of the upper house of Russian parliament, Sergei Mironov, said on
Friday.
"Russia's sovereignty over these territories is unconditional. It's
regrettable that Tokyo gives so little value to relations with Moscow,"
the press service of the United Russia Party Mironov heads said.
The Japanese parliament's position "contradicts the Soviet-Japanese
peace declaration and other agreements of 1956 and the Japanese
authorities cannot but understand this," the speaker said.
Mironov expressed the hope that common sense and respect to the
international law will finally get the upper hand.
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