Kuril Islands 'very important' part of Russia: Medvedev

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Kuril Islands 'very important' part of Russia: Medvedev

PETROPAVLOVSK-KAMCHATSKY, Russia (AFP) – The Pacific Kuril Islands chain claimed

by Japan is a " very important " part of Russia, President Dmitry Medvedev said on

Wednesday, vowing to visit soon.

" This is a very important region of our country, " Medvedev told reporters in the

main city of Russia's volcanic Kamchatka peninsula just north of the contested

islands.

He said he had been hoping to visit on his current trip to the Far East region

but the plan had been thwarted by bad weather.

" But we will do it, we will definitely go there in the nearest future, " he said.

The Kuril Islands, which lie north of Japan's Hokkaido island, have been

controlled by Moscow since they were seized by Soviet troops in 1945 but are

claimed by Japan and their status is a major problem in Moscow-Tokyo relations.