RF expels 4 British diplomats in response to UK actions

Moscow, NU Online
Russia has declared four British diplomats persona non grata in response to London’s actions and demanded they leave the country within 10 days.

British Ambassador in Moscow Anthony Brenton has been summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry. The ambassador has been handed a note “in connection with the unfriendly actions of Britain towards Russia and the Litvinenko case”, Kamynin said on Thursday.<>

“The British diplomat has been informed on other return steps towards provocative and unfriendly actions of London in light of the Litvinenko case. In particular, Russia said we would act ‘mirror-like’ on all visa issues. The ambassador has been demanded to give explanations over London’ s tough requirements on the issuance of visas to Russian officials,” the Russian spokesman said.

“Russian officials will not apply for British visas and visas will not be issued for British officials until explanations are given,” Kamynin was quoted by Itar-tass news agency as saying.

“Unfortunately, such steps make cooperation with London in the war against terrorism impossible,” he added.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said in its statement that Moscow’s steps in response to the British government’s anti-Russian actions are most necessary “surgical” measures.

“Russia had to take such steps taking into account London’s conscious decision to worsen relations with Russia, to impose unilateral restrictions on the two countries’ official governmental contacts and to freeze work on separate projects of the bilateral agreements,” the ministry said.

“In such cases the principle of mutuality, which is the law of interstate communication, always enters into force,” the ministry said.

The spokesman said Moscow took into account the interests of ordinary citizens – tourists, participants in cultural and scientific exchanges, journalists and businessmen. “In any case Moscow did not seek a quarrel with London,” he added.

“The Labour government is guided by anything but not by common sense. I’m convinced that common sense will prevail,” the diplomat pointed out.

“The Labour government’s position towards Russia is based on anything besides common sense, on pragmatism and the respect of law that is proper to Britons,” Kamynin explained. “What it may be to demand a sovereign democratic country change its Constitution for extraditing one citizen who is chief murder suspect over the Litvinenko case,” Kamynin said.

In his words, Moscow is convinced, “Common sense will finally prevail and Russian-British relations will be free of artificial and burdensome circumstances – Britain’s domestic conjecture or any drive for playing the Russian card in European or Euro-Atlantic policy.”

On July 16, Britain ordered the expulsion of four Russian diplomats on Monday over Moscow's refusal to hand over the main suspect in the murder of ex-KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko, escalating tension between Russia and the West.

Aside from the expulsions -- the first since 1996 – Britain said it would make it harder for Russian officials to come to the country and review cooperation on other issues. It said the case could harm Russian ties with the European Union as a whole.

“This is a situation the government has not sought and does not welcome. But we have no choice but to address it,” British Foreign Secretary David Miliband told parliament.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown, speaking after meeting German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin, said he wanted good relations with Russia, but also wanted justice to be served. He said he made no apologies for the diplomatic expulsions.

“We want to work together with Russia constructively on all the major international issues that we face,” said Brown, mentioning Iran and the Middle East.

“A murder did take place. It has been investigated by the independent prosecuting authorities. They have laid a charge and they have made it clear who they want to try for this crime... We're sad that the cooperation has not been forthcoming. We have therefore had to take the action that we have taken,” he added.

British prosecutors want to charge former Russian state security agent Andrei Lugovoy with the murder of Litvinenko, a British citizen who died in a London hospital after ingesting a lethal dose of the rare radioactive isotope polonium-210.

Russia has rejected Britain's request to hand over Lugovoy, saying its constitution does not allow extraditions of Russian citizens. (dar)