Whatever unannounced cannot be postponed

It is impossible to postpone something, if it has not been announced, a source at the Russian foreign ministry told TASS commenting on statements from representatives of the Japanese foreign ministry about the postponed visit of Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida to Russia.

"A visit of Japan's foreign minister has not been announced; it is impossible to postpone something, which has not been announced," the source said.

Earlier on Saturday, Japan’s Kyodo published information the country’s government decided to postpone the visit of Foreign Minister Kishida to Russia as Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev made a trip to the Iturup Island (the Kuril Islands).

Japan’s Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida handed in a protest note to Russia’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Evgeny Afanasyev, over the visit of Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev to the Kuril Islands, the Kyodo agency said.

"It [Medvedev’s trip to the Kuril Islands] has hurt feelings of our people and causes big regret," the agency quoted Kishida. "I am lodging a strong protest."

On August 18, shortly before Medvedev’s trip, the Russian foreign ministry said visits of the kind would continue and in that Moscow would not mind Tokyo’s position.
    [tass.ru]
22/8/15
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• Japan protests Russian PM's visit to one of four Pacific islands

• Tokyo is postponing the visit of Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida to Russia, Japan’s Kyodo News Agency said on Saturday...