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Putin Vows to Overcome Russia-UK “Mini-Crisis”
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday a “mini-crisis” between Moscow and London over the Litvinenko inquiry would be overcome if both sides show “common sense.”
“I am sure this mini-crisis will be overcome,” President Putin said referring to a row between Moscow and London over the Litvinenko murder investigation. “I think Russian-British relations will develop normally. We are interested in the development of relations both from the Russian side and from the British,” the RIA Novosti reported Thursday quoting the Russian leader. “But all our actions should have common sense.”
The row erupted after Moscow last week refused to hand over to Britain Andrei Lugovoi, the chief suspect in the poisoning of former Russian agent Alexander Litvinenko who died in a London hospital in November. Russia says its constitution bars it from extraditing its citizens. Britain retaliated by expelling four Russian diplomats on Monday and imposing visa restrictions on Russian government officials.
Moscow fought back on Thursday announcing the expulsion of four British diplomats, the suspension of counterterrorism cooperation with London and a visa ban for visiting British officials.
The Russian president also commented on Thursday’s resignation of Igor Ivanov as Secretary of the national Security Council, saying a person to fill in the position would be named soon. Russia media earlier said that Mr. Ivanov would hand over to Prosecutor General Yuri Chaika or Duma Speaker Boris Gryzlov.
www.kommersant.com
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