Events | 2009.11.08
Russia is set to turn a page | Yuri Fedotov
Britain allowed political differences to spill over, but Miliband\'s Moscow visit can be a fresh start
The talks in Moscow today with David Miliband are more important than the usual routine foreign minister\'s visit. We all know that relations between our two countries, at least at government level, have not been easy over the last couple of years. The visit is a chance to reset our relationship. Russia is determined to take advantage of this opportunity.
We see recent tensions as a break in normal relations between the UK and Russia . It is a relationship which can be seen, for instance, in the strong business links between our two countries. Trade between us has tripled over the last six years and reached more than $22bn in 2008. Britain remains the fourth biggest foreign investor in Russia.
More than 1,000 British companies now operate successfully in Russia, in sectors as varied as mining and retailing, despite the global crisis which has affected our economic ties as well. BP is part of our biggest multinational enterprise in our oilfields. Barclays, HSBC and other banks are expanding their network of branches. In turn, Russian companies seeking investment enjoy the benefits of the London Stock Exchange, enhancing the City\'s prestige as the world financial centre.
Against this background, it is unfortunate that there has been friction between our countries at diplomatic level. It is true, of course, that Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Gordon Brown have met at a variety of international summits and our foreign ministers have remained in contact. But the fact that there has been no bilateral visit at ministerial level for five years shows that relations are not as warm or positive as they should be.
It is why Miliband\'s visit is an important event, and an opportunity which should not be squandered. But to put our relations on a better footing will require realism – it won\'t be easy to solve the direct sources of friction.
Unfortunately, the UK government has allowed political differences to spill over into the granting of visas, making it harder to encourage cultural and business exchanges. Restoration of the close co-operation that was building on terrorism policy until two years ago would also be strongly in both our countries\' interest.
There are many other areas on the international stage where we have a great deal in common. Russia is a key partner in the coalition in Afghanistan. We have allowed transit of military supplies across our country and are co-operating, at many levels, with the Afghan government. We are playing our full role in international efforts to prevent nuclear proliferation . As key members of the EU3+3 group, we are working hard to find a solution which will allow Iran to develop a civilian nuclear sector but keeps it to its commitment not to develop nuclear weapons.
But it is not just through words and international diplomacy that we aim to make our world safer. The Russia-US nuclear disarmament agreement under discussion shows our ambition to cut numbers of nuclear weapons in our world.
Working together, the UK and Russia can build on all this progress. Our challenge is to ensure specific difficulties do not block wider co-operation – more vital than ever in a world in which problems vault over national borders. Climate change is not going to be addressed by any country acting independently. We all need to come together to find a solution for the benefit of all our citizens and to protect future generations.
This interdependence was underlined by the global financial and economic crisis which swept across the world. Russia has been a key partner in the unprecedented international efforts to reduce its impact on global economies.
So this is not a time to move apart but to move together. We can\'t make specific problems vanish overnight. But we should try harder to prevent them overshadowing a better working relationship. We hope the foreign secretary\'s visit shows we can turn a page in our relations based on mutual interest and respect.
For more information, please visit
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/[...]2/russia-uk-relations-miliband
