Over 95% Of South Kurils' Residents Opposing Possible Transfer Of Islands To Japan - Poll

Sumaira FH Published February 19, 2019 | 07:24 AM

A total of 96 percent of residents of the South Kuril Islands believe that the territory must remain in Russia, thus opposing possible transfer of the islands to Japan, a fresh poll showed on Tuesday

YUZHNO-SAKHALINSK (Russia) (UrduPoint news / Sputnik - 19th February, 2019) A total of 96 percent of residents of the South Kuril Islands believe that the territory must remain in Russia, thus opposing possible transfer of the islands to Japan, a fresh poll showed on Tuesday.

The recent intensification of talks between Russia and Japan sparked rumors about Moscow's intention to transfer the South Kuril Islands or some of them to Tokyo. Russian officials have not made such statements saying that Moscow is just seeking a peace treaty with Tokyo.

"The poll confirmed that the position of residents of the South Kuril Islands is clear. The territorial belonging of the islands is out of question for local residents: the Kuril Islands are a part of the Russian territory.That is an opinion of 96 percent of respondents," Chairman of the board of the Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VTsIOM) Konstantin Abramov said, addressing lawmakers of the Sakhalin Region, which includes the Southern Kurils.

He pointed out that 98 percent of respondents were aware of the Japanese claims for the South Kuril Islands.

The poll was conducted on February 11-17 on the islands of Kunashir, Shikotan and Iturup among 7,695 people aged more than 18 years old, which is some 70 percent of the whole number of adults living on the islands.

The Russian-Japanese relations have long been complicated by the fact that the two nations never signed a permanent peace treaty after the end of World War II. The deal was never reached because of a disagreement over a group of four islands � Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan and Habomai � that are claimed by both countries. They are collectively referred to as the Southern Kurils by Russia and the Northern Territories by Japan.

Since Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Japan in December 2016, the relationship between the two nations have been improving, with the two sides agreeing to develop joint projects on the disputed islands.