Russia invites tender for military project on disputed Kurils

Russia has announced a tender for a major military project on one of its disputed Islands, in a move to firm military presence in the Southern Kurils, which Japan calls the Northern Territories, local media reported Thursday.
Contractors could file applications for building a military complex on the Iturup Island, which Japan calls Etorofu, in the Sakhalin Region until Friday, and the results would be announced on July 11, RIA Novosti news agency quoted Russia's state procurement website as saying.
The contract, which is worth at least 5.4 billion rubles (155 million U.S. dollars), set the deadline for all construction work by Nov. 15, 2015.
The military complex would include dormitories for officers and soldiers, a checkpoint, an academic building for 330 people and a 50-bed infirmary.
It also envisaged the construction of a food production facility, parade and training grounds, a storage of petroleum products, warehouses, and a sports and training complex.
A row over the claim of the disputed islands has barred Moscow and Tokyo from signing a peace treaty after World War II.
Earlier in May, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow was ready for talks with Tokyo over the territorial disputes, but he halted negotiations after Japan joined Western countries in imposing sanctions against Russia over the Ukraine crisis.