Cameron's Moscow visit only a feeler to improve ties
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Xinhua, September 14, 2011
David Cameron is the first British prime minister who visited Russia in six years after bilateral relations worsened over the assassination of a former KGB agent in London in 2006.
Though the two nations remained sharply divided on their opinions concerning the 2006 murder and the current Syrian situation, local analysts believed the two sides had tried their best to bridge differences.
Over the recent years, Russia-Britain relations have been strained over a host of issues, some of which are related to their respective core interests.
Russia has been seeking extraditions of exiled oligarch Boris Berezovsky and Chechen militant leader Akhmad Zakhaev from Britain since 2003, while the British side has been calling for the extradition of Andrei Lugovoi, suspected killer of former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko since 2007.
The two were also at odds over the 2008 Russian-Georgian military conflict. Thus, bilateral cooperation, especially in security and military sector, has been severely hindered.
In May 2010, Sergei Prikhodko, an aide to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, admitted that bilateral relations had "dropped to a point close to freezing."
However, both hit hard by the global financial crisis, the two countries seemed to have realized that their divergences would damage national interests, thus have warmed up their relations in recent years.
In 2010, Medvedev announced to establish Partnership of Modernization with the European Union, while the Cameron government said certain problems should not hamper overall bilateral ties.
Analysts believe the two countries share common interests in issues concerning Afghanistan, anti-terrorism and maintaining Europe's security.
Moreover, despite political rifts, bilateral trade has been heating up in recent years.
According to Medvedev, trade between Russia and Britain rose by nearly a quarter to 16 billion U.S. dollars in 2010 and by another half in the first six months this year.
Compared with weak economic performances of several European countries, Russia has seen a steady economic growth in 2010 and 2011, presenting plenty business opportunities to British companies.
Analysts note that Monday's talks were focused on building up cooperation in economics and trade, science, and culture, instead of these long-time disputes.
Although the two sides reached many agreements during Cameron's Russia visit, differences remain.
Sergei Oznobischev, director of the Russian Institute of Strategic Studies, said Cameron's visit wrapped up with no breakthroughs and the signed documents were anything but substantial.
On Syria, Cameron said President Bashar al-Assad's regime has lost its legitimacy. But Medvedev rejected any outside pressure on Syria.
Additionally, Medvedev reiterated that Russia would not extradite its nationals, alluding to Lugovoi, who was accused by Britain of assassinating former KGB agent Litvinenko.
Cameron said London's position on the issue has not changed and will not stop discussing the problem with the Russian side.
Russia proposed to resume cooperation between the two nations' security agencies and streamline mutual visa application processes. But Britain stressed these measures are possible only after the extradition of Lugovoi.
Analysts believe the two cannot solve the disputes soon.
Actually, such outcomes had already been predicted. Prior to Cameron's visit, Medvedev's aide Prikhodko anticipated Monday's meeting will be "pragmatic and calm," probably without any breakthroughs.
Besides, Russia's presidential election next year would also bring uncertainties to bilateral relations.
Andrei Kortunov, president of the New Eurasia Foundation, noted that Cameron's visit is only a feeler to improve their freezing bilateral relations.
Ahead of Russia's presidential election, Britain does not expect too much of Cameron's visit, Kortunov said.
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