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'Give new airport a traditional Russian name'

By 0 and 0 and 0
25 September 2014

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'It is the newest airport in Russia, its construction on marsh land is an engineering achievement'. Picture: agaa.ru

The new airport on scenic Iturup Island - which started work this month - is crucial to the economic development of the Kurils.

A high profile visit by President Vladimir Putin's chief of staff, Sergei Ivanov, brought a cool response from Tokyo with Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga who claimed the move 'hurt Japanese people's feelings'.

'I believe the airport should be given a traditionally Russian name,' insisted Ivanov, adding that the new facility with a 2,300 metre runway should be used for military as well as civilian purposes. We should decide it during this week.'

Local opinions in capital Kurilsk would be taken into account, Ivanov said. He dismissed Japanese 'wailings', saying: 'I am ready to patiently listen to these declarations as long as I live'. 

Iturup gets connected, opening up the stunning scenery of the Kuril Islands to tourism.


Iturup gets connected, opening up the stunning scenery of the Kuril Islands to tourism.


Iturup gets connected, opening up the stunning scenery of the Kuril Islands to tourism.

The airport will start with flights to and from Primorye, Khabarovsk, and Magadan regiont. Pictures: agaa.ru

Japan claims sovereignty over four Kuril Islands, and Iturup is known as Etorofu by Tokyo. But Russia insists that the sovereignty of the USSR over the islands was established at the end of the Second Word War and was backed by international agreements. It is believed bilateral contacts will go ahead despite strains in relations which include the Ukraine crisis. 

Alexander Khoroshavin, governor of Sakhalin region, who accompanied Mr Ivanov, said: 'The new airport will allow us to have more passengers travelling to see Iturup. 'It will assist in the island's development. There is a lot the island can offer. I think its bright tourist future is obvious.'

The scenery is stunning with volcanic massifs and mountain ridges. Iturup has some of Russia's highest waterfalls. 

'This is the first airport built from scratch in Russia's post-Soviet history. What's more, it was built in the swampy taiga', added the governor. 

Iturup gets connected, opening up the stunning scenery of the Kuril Islands to tourism.


Iturup gets connected, opening up the stunning scenery of the Kuril Islands to tourism.


Iturup gets connected, opening up the stunning scenery of the Kuril Islands to tourism.

Stunning: view of the Iturup island. Pictures: vk.com

'The airport will start with flights to and from Primorye, Khabarovsk, and Magadan region, with hopes for international flights in future', reported Vesti.ru TV. 

'The first passenger plane at the new airport was an Aurora airlines Bombardier Dash-8 Q300 with 50 passengers from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. They were greeted with presents and queries on how comfortable was the landing.'

Passenger Igor Moiseenko: 'It feels like a high quality airport meeting international standards.'

It is currently the newest airport in Russia, its construction on marsh land an engineering achievement. 

Andrey Lapshin, the Dash 8-300 pilot, said: 'The runway is great, wide and comfortable. It felt really smooth as we landed, seamless, it was very well built.'

Valentina Molchanova, chief of the airport's weather station, said: 'We are well equipped to service planes no matter the weather.'

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in a telephone conversation with Vladimir Putin on 21 September proposed bilateral talks  during the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) forum's summit that is due in Beijing in November. Mr Ivanov said the plan for the airport dated back more than a decade. 

'Everything began to be exact way back in 2003 when I was Defence Minister and visited here. The idea originated at that time,' he said. 

Comments (14)

That bottom picture; I could melt into that "Sunset".


Siberian Times you have great taste in "Photography".
Jaker, Dundalk
10/10/2014 10:09
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Beautiful Russian islands. The name for the airport could be Croatian name - Kornati. So Kornati Airport on Kuril islands.
Ante, Split/Croatia
05/10/2014 01:20
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Lovely Island! Kudos to the photographer.
Cat Jacob, Cottage Grove, Oregon, USA
29/09/2014 06:35
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Lovely Island! Kudos to the photographer.
Cat Jacob, Cottage Grove, Oregon, USA
29/09/2014 06:34
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I really want to go. I think it would be fascinating. Despite not being so far, however, it's difficult to get there if you live in Japan.
James, Tokyo
27/09/2014 11:40
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Really. all Japan is occupied by the US since WWII. The present puppet Givernment in Tokyo is tthe result of Hiroshima. Just a US Protectorate without dignity and without sovereignty. A farce.
Enrique, Spain
27/09/2014 02:05
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Stunningly,breathtakingly beautiful! Who wouldn't want to step out from a plane and be greeted with such splendour ?
A kaleidoscope of hues.colours and shades that would make artists cry at their own inadequacies. Truly a masterpiece not created by man. Also huge accolades to the very skillled photographer who in no doubt has the best job on this planet Patrick.
Patrick Travers, Perth Australia
26/09/2014 18:46
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I see our hyper-active CIA friend is at it again. You are going to burn out at this rate, do take a break.
Where do they find people like you I wonder? Are you really the best they can do. Perhaps CIA is finally running out of money, if you are the best they can afford.
Lazar, Moscow
26/09/2014 18:18
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I'll say this again though, the scenery in the photographs is "Beautiful".
Jaker, Dundalk
26/09/2014 10:24
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Lazar, you acknowledge I have a brain, then? Well, it will always be well turned on to answer anything you or fellow Kremlin propagandists can throw at me, when I choose to.

PS. Sat down again...but can't do a better answer than I gave. & I see you didn't bother to try to do one to better me, it figures.
Jaker, Dundalk
26/09/2014 10:22
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Jaker why dont you sit down again, turn on your brain, if you have one, and try to do a bit better next time.
Lazar, Moscow
26/09/2014 02:26
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Name it 'Stolen'...{'-'}
Jaker, Dundalk
25/09/2014 22:37
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name it Серjoжа :)
Igor, Zagreb
25/09/2014 16:44
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name it Серjoжа :)
Igor, Zagreb
25/09/2014 16:43
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2
1

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