The Japanese TV reports that the Premier was viewing through the sea binocular the shores of the Polonsky, Zeleny (Green) and Kunashir isles which are claimed by Japan. On his return to the city of Nemuro on the Hokkaido island Koizumi is planning to meet with former residents of the South Kuril isles who were deported to Japan in 1945 after Japan's defeat in the WWII. In Japan these territories are known as "northern territories".
The deputy chairman of the ruling Liberal-Democratic Party, Taku Yamazaki , said "the Premier had a strong wish to see with his own eyes the northern territories." In Koizumi's words, this trip is to demonstrate once again that the islands are "constituent part of Japan".
This is the third-ever viewing of the northern territories by a Japanese leader. Similar surveys called upon to confirm Tokyo's territorial claims were made by premiers Zenko Suzuki in September 1981 and Yoshiro Mori in April 2001, with both doing this from the helicopter's board.
The day before the Russian Foreign Ministry subjected to criticism Koizumi's intention to view the southern Kurils.
"Such actions, which were demonstratively timed to coincide with the anniversary of the end of WWII can complicate once again the talks on the issue of a peace treaty, rather than giving a positive impulse to them, says the comment by the press and information department of the Russian Foreign Ministry dated August 30.
The Russian side proceeds from the assumption that the positive dynamics in bilateral relations should be preserved and vigorous efforts continued to promote them in all areas.
Moscow believes that the above-mentioned plans have been dictated , primarily, by internal political considerations as it is difficult to imagine that such steps can have the aim of bringing a constructive element into Russian -Japanese relations
