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161041
Tue, 02/15/2011 - 08:02
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http://m.oananews.org//node/161041
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Lavrov to hold talks with William Hague, David Cameron
LONDON, February 15 (Itar-Tass) - The programme of Russian Foreign
Minister Sergei Lavrov's visit to the UK on Tuesday will begin with talks at the Foreign Office with British Foreign Secretary William Hague. After that he will meet Prime Minister David Cameron at his residence at 10, Downing Street.
The Russian minister plans to discuss a wide range of issues of
bilateral relations and topical international issues, in particular,
European security and cooperation on the project of European missile
defence between Russia and the EU and within the Russia-NATO Council, as well as the situation in the Middle East, in Afghanistan, Iran's nuclear programme.
On the eve of the Russian minister's visit to London, The Times
published an editorial, which noted that over the past five years, the
relationship of Great Britain and Russia was essentially as tense as at the height of the Cold War. London-Moscow ties remain on a much less favourable basis than Russia's relations with other Western European countries, according to the newspaper. Both sides admit that something must be done here.
Nevertheless, the situation around Moscow-based correspondent for The Guardian Luke Harding before the visit of the Russian foreign minister to London has shown that mechanisms of interaction exist between Russian and British authorities that allow them to effectively solve emerging problems, when the parties are interested in it. The British Foreign Office said that it was pleased that the Russian authorities decided to extend the accreditation of Harding. The journalist on February 12 returned to Russia and received his press card.
Diplomatic circles, describing the relations between Moscow and
London, note that "elements of their improvement in the economic sphere and at the level of political contacts have been observed recently."
According to local observers, "the new coalition government of the United Kingdom seeks to intensify ties with Russia." David Cameron's first visit to Moscow is planned this year. Itar-Tass learnt that the British side, considering the timing of this trip, offers autumn - most likely, November.
A Foreign Office official told Itar-Tass in an exclusive interview in connection with the beginning of the Russian foreign minister's visit to London, that "Minister Lavrov's visit - just four months after the visit of the British foreign secretary to Moscow - testifies to the fact that both Russia and the United Kingdom continue to seek to patiently and consistently improve the relations. It will take some time. There will be no giant breakthroughs. We are talking about small, practical steps."
"Minister Lavrov's visit falls on a turning point," believes the
British Foreign Office. "Moscow's Domodedovo airport explosion in January sharply underlined the overall security threat we face from international terrorism. This is just one of many serious challenges, including nuclear non-proliferation and climate change, which we must deal with."
Great Britain is interested in closer cooperation with Russia in
combating terrorism, the source said. "Countering terrorism is one of the spheres where we seek to explore possibilities for closer cooperation with Russia - within a well-defined framework. A complete ban on our bilateral contacts with the FSB (Federal Security Service) remains. This, however, should not be regarded as a straitjacket that does not allow any cooperation in countering terrorism," stressed the Foreign Office.
"During the visit, major attention will be paid to our constructive dialogue on major issues of international politics and security," the British Foreign Office official noted. "Egypt, Iran, the Middle East peace process, Afghanistan, nuclear non-proliferation, as well as energy and climate security - all these issues will be on the agenda."
The parties also intend to pay attention to the discussion of cultural ties. A series of events in 2011 aimed at promoting Russian culture in the UK is called upon to give a new impetus to cooperation in this sphere.
They include the organisation of an exhibition devoted to the 50th
anniversary of the first manned space flight, as well as Russia's
participation as a special guest at the annual London Book Fair.
The Russian foreign minister on Tuesday will open the Russian Business Week at the London School of Economics, which is one of the leading British and international higher educational institutions training economists and businessmen. This year, the issue of turning Moscow into an international financial centre will occupy a significant place at this important forum, which is a venue for exchanging views on key issues of Russia's economic agenda. The Business Week will continue through February 18.
In the afternoon, after ending his programme, Sergei Lavrov will
leave London for Rome.
Minister Sergei Lavrov's visit to the UK on Tuesday will begin with talks at the Foreign Office with British Foreign Secretary William Hague. After that he will meet Prime Minister David Cameron at his residence at 10, Downing Street.
The Russian minister plans to discuss a wide range of issues of
bilateral relations and topical international issues, in particular,
European security and cooperation on the project of European missile
defence between Russia and the EU and within the Russia-NATO Council, as well as the situation in the Middle East, in Afghanistan, Iran's nuclear programme.
On the eve of the Russian minister's visit to London, The Times
published an editorial, which noted that over the past five years, the
relationship of Great Britain and Russia was essentially as tense as at the height of the Cold War. London-Moscow ties remain on a much less favourable basis than Russia's relations with other Western European countries, according to the newspaper. Both sides admit that something must be done here.
Nevertheless, the situation around Moscow-based correspondent for The Guardian Luke Harding before the visit of the Russian foreign minister to London has shown that mechanisms of interaction exist between Russian and British authorities that allow them to effectively solve emerging problems, when the parties are interested in it. The British Foreign Office said that it was pleased that the Russian authorities decided to extend the accreditation of Harding. The journalist on February 12 returned to Russia and received his press card.
Diplomatic circles, describing the relations between Moscow and
London, note that "elements of their improvement in the economic sphere and at the level of political contacts have been observed recently."
According to local observers, "the new coalition government of the United Kingdom seeks to intensify ties with Russia." David Cameron's first visit to Moscow is planned this year. Itar-Tass learnt that the British side, considering the timing of this trip, offers autumn - most likely, November.
A Foreign Office official told Itar-Tass in an exclusive interview in connection with the beginning of the Russian foreign minister's visit to London, that "Minister Lavrov's visit - just four months after the visit of the British foreign secretary to Moscow - testifies to the fact that both Russia and the United Kingdom continue to seek to patiently and consistently improve the relations. It will take some time. There will be no giant breakthroughs. We are talking about small, practical steps."
"Minister Lavrov's visit falls on a turning point," believes the
British Foreign Office. "Moscow's Domodedovo airport explosion in January sharply underlined the overall security threat we face from international terrorism. This is just one of many serious challenges, including nuclear non-proliferation and climate change, which we must deal with."
Great Britain is interested in closer cooperation with Russia in
combating terrorism, the source said. "Countering terrorism is one of the spheres where we seek to explore possibilities for closer cooperation with Russia - within a well-defined framework. A complete ban on our bilateral contacts with the FSB (Federal Security Service) remains. This, however, should not be regarded as a straitjacket that does not allow any cooperation in countering terrorism," stressed the Foreign Office.
"During the visit, major attention will be paid to our constructive dialogue on major issues of international politics and security," the British Foreign Office official noted. "Egypt, Iran, the Middle East peace process, Afghanistan, nuclear non-proliferation, as well as energy and climate security - all these issues will be on the agenda."
The parties also intend to pay attention to the discussion of cultural ties. A series of events in 2011 aimed at promoting Russian culture in the UK is called upon to give a new impetus to cooperation in this sphere.
They include the organisation of an exhibition devoted to the 50th
anniversary of the first manned space flight, as well as Russia's
participation as a special guest at the annual London Book Fair.
The Russian foreign minister on Tuesday will open the Russian Business Week at the London School of Economics, which is one of the leading British and international higher educational institutions training economists and businessmen. This year, the issue of turning Moscow into an international financial centre will occupy a significant place at this important forum, which is a venue for exchanging views on key issues of Russia's economic agenda. The Business Week will continue through February 18.
In the afternoon, after ending his programme, Sergei Lavrov will
leave London for Rome.
