Russian Foreign Ministry Recalls Ambassador Lambsdorff to Moscow
In a recent development, the Russian Foreign Ministry has summoned the German Ambassador to Moscow, Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, due to statements made by the German Ambassador to Japan, Petra Sigmund, regarding the sovereignty of the Southern Kuril Islands. The Russian ministry has accused Sigmund of questioning Russia's sovereignty over the islands, a claim that the German Embassy in Moscow has rejected.
The Southern Kuril Islands, a group of islands claimed by both Russia and Japan, have been a point of contention in Russo-Japanese relations for decades. Russia asserts full sovereignty over them as part of the post-war territorial arrangement recognized by the United Nations, while Japan claims the islands as its own territory. The Russian Foreign Ministry has emphasized that Russian sovereignty over the islands is "undisputed."
The diplomatic tensions escalated when Ambassador Lambsdorff was summoned to discuss "retaliatory measures" in response to alleged persecution of Russian journalists in Germany. However, Ambassador Lambsdorff has criticized Russia's war in Ukraine, describing it as a serious violation of sovereignty and international law. He has also criticized Moscow for using the visit of German diplomats to the Japanese city of Nemuro on the island of Hokkaido near the Southern Kurils as a pretext for protest while Russia continues its invasion of Ukraine.
Meanwhile, in other news, the city of Fellbach has found two Asian tiger mosquitoes, small but potentially dangerous insects, which carry a potentially dangerous virus. The city of Fellbach calls for vigilance. In the Rems-Murr district, police have removed five drunk drivers from the road in three nights. Elsewhere, an elderly driver has caused an accident, a BMW driver has been caught twice, and a barbecue has ended in handcuffs due to drunk driving incidents.
In a separate matter, a photo of the Leonberg horse market, taken 35 years ago, will be sold for a good cause. The proceeds from the sale will be donated to a local charity.
The issue of the Southern Kuril Islands remains a significant point of contention in Russo-Japanese relations, and it remains to be seen how this diplomatic row will unfold. The Russian Foreign Ministry has warned Germany not to cast doubt on the post-World War II order that recognizes these islands as part of Russia, calling the German support for Japan's territorial claims "particularly mocking" in the year marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
- The Russian Foreign Ministry has expressed concerns over the German Embassy's stance on the Southern Kuril Islands, a point of contention between Russia and Japan, and has considered German support for Japan's territorial claims as "particularly mocking" in the year marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
- The issue of the Southern Kuril Islands, which Russia asserts is part of its sovereign territory, has been highlighted in political discussions, with Ambassador Lambsdorff criticizing Russia's actions in Ukraine, including its war, as a violation of sovereignty and international law.
