RUSSIAN OFFICIAL FAVORS HAND-OVER OF KURIL ISLANDS.

A local government official from the Russian-controlled Kurils Islands told reporters in Kushiro, Japan, on October 8 that he would not object if the islands were handed over to Tokyo. The official, who was visiting Kushiro as chief of a Russian mission, said that his main concern was that any change in the islands’ status not harm the interests of the Russian residents on the islands. (Kyodo, October 8)

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