Russia's Foreign Ministry on Saturday urged Japan to renounce its far-fetched emphasis on "island themes" in order to reach constructive dialogue with Russia.
Earlier Japan has expressed its regret over a recent visit by Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov to the disputed Kuril Islands, Japan's Kyodo news agency reported.
Serdyukov visited the south Kuril Islands on Friday to inspect Russian troops deployed on Iturup, Kunashir and Shikotan islands.
"At a time of calls to improve Russian-Japanese relations, this current visit is like having cold water poured on us," Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara said.
"We want to believe that, all in all, considered and unflustered stance on the objective territory realities, worked out following the results of the World War II and enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations Organization will prevail in Tokyo," a statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
Both Japan and Russia have laid claims to the disputed South Kuril Islands since they were annexed by the Soviet Union at the end of World War II. The dispute has prevented the two countries signing a peace treaty to formally end hostilities.
Tensions between Japan and Russia reached new heights after Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's visit to Kunashir, the second-largest of the four islands, last November. Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan said the visit was "very regrettable."
Japan fired its ambassador to Russia for failure to swiftly inform Tokyo about the visit. Medvedev expressed regret that his visit led to the Japanese ambassador's recall.
Japan also voiced concerns over the visits of Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov and a Russian defense ministry commission led by Deputy Defense Minister Dmitry Bulgakov in December and January respectively.
Tokyo considers the visits as a sign of Russia's strengthened stance on the Kuril Islands.
MOSCOW, February 5 (RIA Novosti)
