Japanese ambassador leaves Moscow amidst Kurils controversy

MOSCOW. November 2. KAZINFORM Japan's ambassador to Russia Masaharu Kono is to leave for Tokyo shortly, Interfax news agency reported on Tuesday; Kazinform refers to Xinhua.

"The ambassador will return to Tokyo shortly to clear up all circumstances connected with the Russian president's trip to Kunashiri," the Japanese embassy spokesman Akira Imamura said.

He added that the date the ambassador's return to Moscow has not been set yet.

Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara recalled temporarily the Japanese ambassador to Moscow after Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's trip on Monday to the Kunashiri island.

"I have made the decision to recall Ambassador Masahara Kono from Russia," Maehara said.

"This decision is another regrettable mistake made by Japan in its policy towards Russia," Konstantin Kosachyov, chairman of the State Duma International Affairs Committee commented.

Tokyo's decision to recall its ambassador from Russia will in no way change the position of Moscow over the Kurils, he said.

"As a matter of fact, such a radical step taken by Tokyo could not influence Russia's approach to this problem. Rather, it only hampers and delays the possibility of looking for compromises regarding the problem of the disputed territories," Kosachyov said; Kazinform cites Xinhua.

See www.xinhuanet.com/english2010/