Miliband visits Russia to thaw frosty ties, yet differences remain

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband, as the first top British diplomat to visit Moscow in recent five years, wrapped up his two-day visit to Russia on Monday.

Political analysts said the visit itself symbolized London's intention to shove aside deeply-embedded differences surrounding issues such as Russia's refusal to extradite a murder suspect, while seeking collaboration on internationally pressing problems including Iran and Afghanistan.

THREE JOINT STATEMENTS ISSUED

After Monday's formal talks, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov hailed the talks with the British Foreign Secretary "good and productive."

The two diplomats have issued three joint statements on nuclear on-proliferation, Afghanistan and the Middle East settlement.

"I expect them to help us advance on the issues on which we hold close positions as well as on those which we are still working to bring closer," said the Russian top diplomat at a press conference summarizing the results of their talks.

As on nuclear nonproliferation, Moscow and London adhere to the strengthening of nuclear non-proliferation regime, and stand for the expansion of the powers of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

As on Afghanistan, the two countries pledge "close cooperation with the future Afghan government."

As on the Middle East settlement, Russia and Britain stressed that the establishment of an independent and viable Palestinian state living in peace with Israel should be the ultimate objective of the settlement.

BOTH URGING TEHRAN'S ANSWER TO IAEA PROPOSAL

In addition, both foreign ministers have urged an answer from Tehran to the IAEA proposal on the enrichment of uranium aboard.

"All the interested sides (Russia, the United States, France and Iran) met under IAEA auspices. The meeting resulted in a draft document that was compiled by the agency leadership and which as we expect will be approved by all sides without exception, including Iran," the Interfax news agency quoted Lavrov as telling a press conference.

Miliband also urged a prompt response from Iran at the press conference.

"We both want to see a prompt response from the Iranian regime in respect of the Tehran research reactor proposal," he said.

The IAEA proposal suggested shipping most of Iran's existing low-grade enriched uranium to Russia and France where it would be processed into fuel rods with a purity of 20 percent.

The higher-level enriched uranium would be transported back to Iran to be used in a research reactor in Tehran for the manufacture of medical radioisotopes.

Lavrov said Russia would push for another meeting for a "proper" dialogue between six world powers (Britain, China, France, Germany Russia and the United States) and Iran. Envoys of the six powers and Iran have met in Geneva on Oct. 1.

AGREE TO DISAGREE ON SPY EXTRADITION ROW

Relations between Moscow and London have been tense over a number of issues such as the dispute on the murder of exiled former Russian agent Alexander Litvinenko in London three years ago.

Britain expelled four Russian diplomats in July, 2007 due to Russia's refusal to extradite a main suspect in the case, Andrei Lugovoi, who was accused of murdering Litvinenko. Russia also expelled four British diplomats.

Other rows have included Russia's decision to shut down offices of the British Council in the cities of St. Petersburg and Yekaterinburg, Britain's refusal to extradite fugitive Russian businessmen, and Britain's criticism over Russia's brief war with Georgia last August.

After Monday's talks Moscow and London merely agreed to disagree on the spy extradition dispute, as neither side was willing to alter their respective position.

Miliband insisted on the extradition of Lugovoi, saying that his country attributed large importance to the investigation of the death of Litvinenko. However, Lavrov said the extradition was simply unrealistic.

"Our position has not changed," the RIA Novosti news agency quoted him as telling the press conference, "I believe our British colleagues understand their demands that we amend our Constitution are absolutely unrealistic."

"This series of meetings is a chance to add depth and drive to our relationship," Miliband told Lavrov at the start of their talks on Monday.

MENDING TIES AMID DEEP RIFTS

Prior to Miliband's visit to Moscow that started on Sunday, diplomats from both sides have expressed willingness to resolve lingering key problems, while initiating a "reset" of bilateral relations.

Miliband in his blog admitted the divergences but said better British-Russian ties were substantial for both countries.

"We don't always see eye to eye with Russia, but we share the same global challenges and it is important that we work on them together," he wrote.

At the start of their talks on Monday, Miliband also told Lavrov that "this series of meetings is a chance to add depth and drive to our relationship."

As for the Russian side, they regarded Britain as a key partner in politics, business and economy, said Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko on Thursday.

Russia's ambassador to Britain Yuri Fedotov also declared in the Guardian newspaper that Miliband's visit "is a chance to resetour relationship."

Lavrov voiced a similar position, saying that "on our part, everything is ready for a reset."

Analysts said maybe the more important thing for the two countries is simply to engage in more political dialogues, and try to understand whether both sides could match each other's expectations.

Vladislav Belov, an analyst with the Institute of Europe at the Russian Academy of Sciences, told Moscow Times on Monday that the meeting will be important as a possible turning point in relations, especially if the pair focuses on common interests like Iran and Afghanistan rather than differences.

Source: Xinhua