You're reading: Russian Foreign Ministry: Russia not engaged in any ‘Kuril diplomacy’

MOSCOW – The Russian Foreign Ministry views the wording of “Kuril diplomacy” incorrect with respect to the implementation of Russian-Japanese agreements on joint economic activity on the Kuril Islands, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said.

“This wording, which is used [in media], is not even applied by us, and I am not sure that it has some grounds behind it. We are not engaged in any ‘Kuril diplomacy’,” Zakharova said at a press briefing on Thursday.

Journalists’ questions with use of this wording evoke “bewilderment”, she said.

While implementing Russian-Japanese agreements on developing joint activity on the South Kurils “concrete parameters of the projects are being elaborated” on the previously agreed trends, namely, mariculture, wind-power engineering, establishment of greenhouse farms, waste disposal and arrangements for tourist trips, Zakharova also said.

To these ends, two task forces on commercial and visa procedure were set up, she also said. “There are plans to hold the first meetings of these groups before yearend,” Zakharova said.