Russian foreign minister in Britain to mend fences (News Feature)

By Anna Tomforde Feb 14, 2011, 14:36 GMT

London - Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived on a two-day official visit in Britain Monday aimed at reviving bilateral relations after years of diplomatic tensions in the wake of the 2006 Litvinenko affair.

Lavrov is the first senior Russian government official to come to Britain since the death from radiation poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko, a former Russian agent, in London, in November, 2006.

The murky affair was followed by mutual diplomatic expulsions and the persistent refusal by Moscow to extradite Andrei Lugovoi, a former Soviet KGB agent and chief suspect in the murder.

Lavrov is set to have talks in London Tuesday with Prime Minister David Cameron and Foreign Secretary William Hague, who recently visited Russia. Cameron is due to visit Moscow later this year.

After Hague's visit in October, 2010, both sides spoke of a 'positive dynamism' in relations, but stressed ties were still far from normal.

In addition to trade and economic relations, the two sides are expected to discuss a wide range of international and regional issues, including the Middle East, European security and the controversy surrounding Iran's nuclear plans.

More recently, bilateral relations were clouded by the refusal of a visa by Moscow for Luke Harding, the Russia correspondent for Britain's Guardian newspaper.

Harding was refused re-entry after returning from a lengthy stay in Britain, where he co-authored a book on WikiLeaks, the whistleblowing organization.

But the tension surrounding the case was resolved unusually quickly - and in direct contacts between Lavrov and Hague - in a clear attempt to avoid a fresh strains on relations.

The Russian authorities confirmed Sunday that Harding, 42, had been granted a new visa to re-enter Russia to resume his duties.

The Guardian Monday warned the British government not to ignore the continuing human rights violations in Russia in its search for improved trade relations.

Britain, said the paper, should beware of following the 'self-interested abasement of Germany, Italy and France' by sacrificing moral standards in its dealings with a state which had 'no prospect of becoming a real democracy.'

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