maven
11-01-2009, 09:30 AM
Is this a worrying move? We are seeing Russia becoming a shield for Iran's nuclear programme and I for one do not trust Gordon Browns intentions.
It has emerged in the past twenty-four hours that Brown is secretly campaigning to have Milliband made the next president of the European Community to keep Tony Blair; a safer pair of hands for the US and Israel, out of the job.
With appeasement the order of the day from the White House and the State Department in Washington I wonder if Britain needs to get even closer to Moscow at the moment?
-Miliband in Russia to hold talks-
David Miliband has arrived in Moscow for the first visit to Russia in five years by a British foreign secretary.
Mr Miliband says Britain still does not always "see eye to eye" with Russia but acknowledges it is a world power and an important trading partner.
Official talks are expected to focus on Iran, the Middle East and Afghanistan.
ANALYSIS:
Bridget Kendall,
BBC diplomatic correspondent
Not since July 2004 has a British Foreign Secretary been to Moscow - an extraordinarily long time, given the volume of trade between the two countries and the global problems they are both concerned about.
On the eve of Mr Miliband's arrival in Moscow the Russian ambassador to London was still blaming Britain for an "anachronistic" attitude and "artificial barriers" which stood in the way of improved relations.
Both countries agree they need to work together. But neither side seem to think they'll find a way past their deep seated disagreements.
But Prime Minister Gordon Brown has spoken frequently with Russian president Dmitry Medvedev at international summits and Mr Miliband has held regular talks elsewhere with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, who he will meet for dinner later. Writing on his blog, Mr Miliband said: "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. "The wealth of people-to-people contacts and the dynamic business links which have grown between Britain and Russia over the last 20 years make political engagement all the more important."
The Foreign Office said Mr Miliband would meet a range of politicians, business leaders and representatives of civil society before returning home on Tuesday. A spokeswoman said: "Russia matters greatly to finding ways to address the major global challenges which we face."
She added: "Where we disagree we state our positions frankly.... We want a stable, long term relationship with Russia. The foreign secretary is going to Russia to take that agenda forward."
Cont:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8336378.stm
It has emerged in the past twenty-four hours that Brown is secretly campaigning to have Milliband made the next president of the European Community to keep Tony Blair; a safer pair of hands for the US and Israel, out of the job.
With appeasement the order of the day from the White House and the State Department in Washington I wonder if Britain needs to get even closer to Moscow at the moment?
-Miliband in Russia to hold talks-
David Miliband has arrived in Moscow for the first visit to Russia in five years by a British foreign secretary.
Mr Miliband says Britain still does not always "see eye to eye" with Russia but acknowledges it is a world power and an important trading partner.
Official talks are expected to focus on Iran, the Middle East and Afghanistan.
ANALYSIS:
Bridget Kendall,
BBC diplomatic correspondent
Not since July 2004 has a British Foreign Secretary been to Moscow - an extraordinarily long time, given the volume of trade between the two countries and the global problems they are both concerned about.
On the eve of Mr Miliband's arrival in Moscow the Russian ambassador to London was still blaming Britain for an "anachronistic" attitude and "artificial barriers" which stood in the way of improved relations.
Both countries agree they need to work together. But neither side seem to think they'll find a way past their deep seated disagreements.
But Prime Minister Gordon Brown has spoken frequently with Russian president Dmitry Medvedev at international summits and Mr Miliband has held regular talks elsewhere with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, who he will meet for dinner later. Writing on his blog, Mr Miliband said: "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. "The wealth of people-to-people contacts and the dynamic business links which have grown between Britain and Russia over the last 20 years make political engagement all the more important."
The Foreign Office said Mr Miliband would meet a range of politicians, business leaders and representatives of civil society before returning home on Tuesday. A spokeswoman said: "Russia matters greatly to finding ways to address the major global challenges which we face."
She added: "Where we disagree we state our positions frankly.... We want a stable, long term relationship with Russia. The foreign secretary is going to Russia to take that agenda forward."
Cont:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8336378.stm