Japan has delayed signing an economic cooperation deal with Russia in protest to the recent visit of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to a disputed island in the Kuril Islands chain, Kyodo news agency said on Friday.
A long-standing territorial dispute between Moscow and Tokyo over the Kuril Islands, called the Northern Territories by Japan, was aggravated by Medvedev`s visit to Kunashir. Tokyo has described the visit, the first trip by a Russian president to the disputed islands, as "regrettable," while Moscow argued it is up to the Russian authorities to decide on their trips inside the country.
"The problem of the Northern territories is a very important issue. The Russian president`s actions defied the Japanese minds and souls," Kyodo cited Japan`s Economy Minister Akihiro Ohata as saying.
The signing of the economic cooperation deal was due to take place at the ongoing Russian-Japanese investment forum in Tokyo.
The Japanese economy minister did not attend the forum. His Russian colleague, Elvira Nabiullina, opened the forum and then hastily left citing urgent domestic affairs.
Following the row sparked by Medvedev`s visit, Japan temporarily recalled its ambassador from Russia. The ambassador returned to Moscow as the Japanese government decided to refrain from further actions of protest.
Both Moscow and Tokyo have laid claim to the Kuril Islands since they were occupied by the Soviet Union at the end of World War II. The dispute over the islands has prevented the two countries from signing a peace treaty to formally end World War II hostilities.