UK and Russia to form closer ties

[vector7]

UK and Russia to form closer ties

By JANE WARDELL (AP) – 2 days ago



HUNTSVILLE, Ontario — British Prime Minister David Cameron and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev pledged Friday to improve the recently strained relationship between their two countries after meeting for the first time.

"We agreed that our bilateral relations required personal attention of the leaders ... both in terms of economic and other issues, and we are determined to make them more productive and more intense," Medvedev said through an interpreter after the pair talked on the sidelines of the G-8 summit.

Britain and Russia have had a troubled relationship in recent years amid controversy over issues including the fatal poisoning of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko in London in 2006 and the enforced exile of executives in British oil company BP PLC's Russian joint venture.

Cameron, who took office last month as head of a coalition government, said there was a "real opportunity to put the bilateral relationship on a new footing to try to make a stronger start and work through the issues where we have agreement and those where we still have things to work through."

The warm tone following the meeting of the two leaders is a positive sign for Russia as it bids to join the World Trade Organization, an issue that could come up at the G-20 summit, which begins in Toronto on Saturday.

The U.S. and Russia vowed to "reset" relations after the Obama administration took power last year and President Barack Obama voiced strong support for the WTO bid on Thursday after a meeting in Washington with Medvedev.

Obama pledged to help Russia speed up its more than decade-long bid in hopes that Moscow could win acceptance as early as Sept. 30.
Cameron's spokesman Steve Field said before the meeting that Cameron wouldn't shy away from discussing difficult issues with Medvedev, but added he would take a "positive approach."

Separately, Cameron also welcomed a U.S. breakthrough on tough new financial regulations but is sticking to his guns on Britain's own plans to sharply curtail spending — despite Obama's plea for continued economic stimulus.

A spokesman for the British leader said that "like the U.S., the U.K. is taking serious steps" to reform its financial system. Cameron's government this week unveiled an emergency budget that included higher taxes and the toughest cuts in public spending in decades.

The spokesman spoke to The Associated Press at an economic summit in Canada. He spoke on condition of anonymity as the matter had not yet been formally discussed.

Copyright © 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

[vector7]

Russia and Britain take first steps to thaw relationship

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British Prime Minister David Cameron, left, holds talks with Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev during the G-8 summit at the Deerhurst resort, near Huntsville, Canada, on Friday. Photo: AP.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and new British Prime Minister David Cameron have agreed to revive the relationship between their two nations after years of glacial interactions, the Kremlin announced on Saturday.

Meeting Mr. Cameron for the first time at the Group of Eight (G8) summit in Canada, Mr. Medvedev said that a “certain adjustment” in the countries’ relations is needed.

Mr. Cameron in turn spoke of “a real opportunity to put the bilateral relationship onto a new footing and try to make a stronger start.” Mr. Medvedev and Mr. Cameron agreed to maintain regular personal contact, while their respective foreign ministers would also be encouraged to work together more closely.

Russian—British relations had been icy under Mr. Cameron’s predecessor, Labour premier Gordon Brown. Russia blamed Britain for the diplomatic strain.

The relationship had been particularly tested after the 2006 fatal poisoning of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko in London.
British investigators suspected Russian parliament member Andrei Lugovoi of the murder, but Russia blocked his extradition.

Russia, meanwhile, has demanded that Britain hand over the exiled Russian billionaire and government opponent Boris Berezovsky, who has been sentenced in absentia to a long prison sentence on fraud and embezzlement charges back home.

That dispute led Britain to expel Russian diplomats. Russia soon followed suit, additionally shutting down two branches of the British Council, a cultural and educational organisation affiliated with the British foreign ministry.

Keywords: Britain, Russia, relationship revival, Dmitry Medvedev, David Cameron, G8 summit

[Ryan Ruck]

Moved over to the NATO forum.

[vector7]

Thanks Ryan.