[Citation required] In terms of function and efficiency, the UN has been compared by some to the pre-constitutional federal government of the United States,[23] indicating a comparison between modern contract law and the historical articles of Confederation. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev was quoted by Reuters on September 29, 2010 as saying that he was planning a visit to the controversial islands soon and calling the Southern Islands “an important region of our country.” [41] The Japanese Foreign Ministry criticized Medvedev`s testimony and called it regrettable.