Russians in Far East protest Japan's claim to Kuril Islands

10/07/200913:14

YUZHNO-SAKHALINSK, July 10 (RIA Novosti) - About 750 residents of the Far Eastern city of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk protested on Friday against Japan's claim to four disputed Pacific islands.

The Japanese parliament on July 3 declared the four southern islands of the Kuril chain as "historical" Japanese territory. President Dmitry Medvedev told Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso on Thursday that the move did not create an atmosphere of trust in which to resolve the long-running dispute.

Organizers said no political party was behind the gathering. Among those who addressed the crowd were World War II veterans and members of the city's nongovernmental organizations.

"The islands were, are and will be ours," said Yuri Andreyev, acting chairman of the city's council of WWII veterans.

The islands were annexed by the Soviet Union at the end of World War II and the dispute has so far prevented Russia and Japan from signing a formal peace treaty.