Japan FMry withdraws document stating Kuriles "under occupation".

TOKYO, November 21 (Itar-Tass) -- The Japanese Foreign Ministry has
withdrawn the government document that states that the Southern Kuriles
are under "Russia's illegal occupation". Mass media received the document
on Friday.
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 the authorities' unapproved answer was
an incredible mistake requiring an apology.
Japanese mass media reported on Friday that the Japanese government on
Friday, November 20, approved the document reading the Southern Kuriles
were under the Russian Federation's illegal occupation. As was reported,
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 the
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.
-0-pan/ast