GRUSHKO: KURILE ISLANDS WILL REMAIN RUSSIA’S

ARKHANGELSK, AUGUST 13 /SRNA - RIA Novosti/ - The Kurile Islands will remain Russia’s, as Japan’s diplomatic moves concerning the territory will lead to nothing, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said.

"Russian land will remain Russian land," Grushko told the press.

Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced earlier today that it had called on Russian Ambassador to Japan Nikolai Nozdrev over Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Iturup Island. The ministry had previously filed a protest note over the visit.