Lavrov begins visit to UK to strengthen positive trends in relations.

MOSCOW, February 14 (Itar-Tass) - Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei
Lavrov begins his visit to London on Monday.
On February 15, he will meet with British Foreign Secretary William
Hague to strengthen positive trends in the two countries' relations.
Lavrov is also expected to meet with Prime Minister David Cameron and
to speak at the London School of Economics and Political Science.
"Moscow hopes that the Russian foreign minister's visit will allow to
strengthen positive trends in relations with Britain," Russian foreign
ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said. "Of late we register
springs, elements and symptoms of their improvement, including that in the
economic sector and at the level of political contacts."
Expects say despite encouraging trends Lavrov's visit will take place
under difficult conditions. A recent scandal over expulsion of Luke
Harding, a Moscow-based reporter for The Guardian, when he tried to return
to Moscow, heavily troubled the relations that were not easy ones.
The Russian-British relations were strained by the closure of the
British Council's most offices in Russia in 2008 and by the murder of
former Russian security officer Alexander Litvinenko, although positive
trends have been reported in this case. In particular, Britain expressed
its interest in resuming cooperation with Russia in security and the fight
against terrorism that was disrupted four years ago over the Litvinenko
case. It is expected that the proposal can be officially voiced during
Lavrov's visit.
In general, the Russian diplomat plans to discuss a wide range of
issues on the bilateral agenda and pressing international problems, in
particular European security, cooperation in Europe's missile defence
project, Russia-EU and Russia-NATO relations as well as the situation in
the Middle East and Afghanistan and Iran's nuclear program.
Experts reiterate that Russia is one of Britain's main trade partners.
Over 1,000 British companies are working in Russia.
According to experts' estimates, the two countries' trade exceeds 17
billion U.S. dollars.
Moreover, Britain is one of Russia's largest foreign investment
partners. Of late Britain's accrued investments in Russia comprised 18
billion U.S. dollars, while Russia's investments in Britain - 3 billion
U.S. dollars.
Moscow and London jointly implement several economic projects,
including the creation of the Skolkovo innovation hub. The first
Russian-British venture fund is being created by Russia's nanotechnology
corporation Rosnano and Britain's innovation company Celtic Pharma.
Stronger cultural relations will be high on the talks' agenda as well.
A series of events aimed at promoting Russia's culture in Britain will
give a fresh impetus to this sector in 2011. Among them are an exhibition
devoted to the 50th anniversary of the first manned space flight and