Military History | How To Make War | Wars Around the World Rules of Use How to Behave on an Internet Forum
United Kingdom Discussion Board
   Return to Topic Page
Subject: Britain expels four Russian diplomats
AdamB    7/16/2007 1:37:26 PM
British-Russians relations fall furthern into the mire as the British expel four Russian diplomats in response to the refusal by the Russians to extradite the chief suspect of the murder of British citizen Alexander Litvinenko last year Many are now asking: Is this the start of a new Cold War, between Britain and Russia?...... ----------------------------------- Russian diplomats to be expelled from Britain By Felix Lowe and David Blair 16/07/2007 Daily Telegraph David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, today announced that four Russian diplomats will be expelled following Moscow’s failure to hand over the man suspected of murdering former KGB agent, Alexander Litvinenko. The Russian foreign office has reacted by labelling the expulsion "immoral" and claims it will have serious consequences. Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Miliband said that Russia’s failure to cooperate with the extradition of Andrei Lugovoi was “extremely disappointing”. He told MPs that his decision was the “appropriate response” given the seriousness of the crime. “We need a relationship based on trust and mutual respect,” he said. “The foundation of a successful international partnership is a set of shared values and it is up to Government to assure the integrity of the legal process.” As well as expelling four diplomats, Mr Miliband said that the Government would be reviewing the extent of its relationship with Russia “on a range of issues”. The expulsions were part of a package of four actions, including international agreements meaning Mr Lugovoi could be extradited to the UK if he travelled abroad. Changes had also been made to visa practices between the two countries. Mr Miliband stressed that Russia was an important ally and that the "grave" situation was one that Britain had "not sought and does not welcome". On Sunday, Mr Miliband had called Litvinenko’s murder in London last November a “very serious crime” and said that the judicial process “must be seen through”. Mr Litvinenko, a fierce critic of the Russian regime, died on 23 November from a fatal dose of the extremely rare radioactive isotope polonium 210. Mr Miliband said that the welfare of many British citizens and visiting tourists had been put at stake by the attack. A Scotland Yard investigation has gathered enough evidence to press charges against Mr Lugovoi, another former KGB spy. But the Russian authorities have refused to extradite Mr Lugovoi, who protests his innocence. A Moscow source told the state-run news agency RIA that the Kremlin would give an "adequate response" to the British expulsion. It is thought that President Vladimir Putin’s government will almost certainly respond by ejecting British diplomats from Russia. The Russian foreign minister was informed by Mr Miliband of the expulsions 30 minutes before the move was unveiled to the Commons. The Russian Embassy in London, which refused to give an interview, did say it was "closely examining" what Mr Miliband had said. Relations between the two countries are now at their lowest ebb since the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991. The two countries have not expelled any of each other’s diplomats since a row over spying allegations in 1996. At present, Britain is Russia’s largest foreign investor, with particular interests in the energy sector. Mr Miliband’s stance was welcomed by the shadow foreign secretary, William Hague, who said: "An appalling crime of this nature and gravity cannot simply be overlooked." telegraph.co.uk
 
Quote    Reply

Show Only Poster Name and Title     Newest to Oldest
Herc the Merc    Another offbeat observation   7/16/2007 6:14:58 PM
After Israel-Palestine, India-Pakistan the British will truly hit a highpoint in screwing the world up. Restart the cold war!!! I mean wasn't it BRitain and FRance that sponsored the TReaty of Versailles?? Well it seems that if Britain can't have its empire, it just will destroy planet eart 1 step a time. LOL.
 
Quote    Reply

neutralizer       7/17/2007 6:14:19 AM
Crap.  There's a wider game here.  It starts with the grudge the old guard exKGB hold against the UK intelligence services for their Cold War successes.  Russian periodic song and dance acts about Brit spies in Russia are a symptom of this.
 
However, the actual problem now is that the Brits are most unamused about Russians killing a Brit citizen in London (even if he was ex KGB).  Anybody who thinks there wasn't some degree of offical involvement in this needs to ake up.  The probelm is there is no evidence, (or evidence that UK is going to publish).  However, they know and the Russians know they know.  This persona non grata is UK telling the Russians they won't tolerate this behavior from a bunch of losers.  They are also signalling to any other country that might think it too can get away with such antics.  Of course the Russians have been seriously embarrassed by the Brits being able to follow the Polonium trail, that defintely wasn't in the Russian plan!
 
Quote    Reply

flamingknives       7/17/2007 7:58:00 AM
It was my understanding that the US also sponsored the Treaty of Versailles, along with Italy. 

Palestine  and India were not great, but I'm not convinced that there wouldn't have been trouble had they been handled differently. 
 
Quote    Reply

Herc the Merc    Sounds fishy to me   7/17/2007 3:41:33 PM
As one movie quote put it "Hitler was stupid to attack America and Russia at once, its better to have Russia and America kill each other off", I better run to the nearest British Bankers club pub and check for plots.
 
Quote    Reply

Herc the Merc    timesofindia.indiatimes.com/UK_force_intercept_Russian_bombers/articleshow/2215178.cms   7/18/2007 4:09:33 PM
British Air Force intercept Russian bombers
18 Jul 2007, 2010 hrs ISThttp://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/images/spacer.gif" width=1 border=0>,http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/images/spacer.gif" width=3 border=0>PTI
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/images/spacer.gif" border=0>
 http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/photo.cms?msid=1784511" border=0> Print http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/photo.cms?msid=1784513" border=0> Save http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/photo.cms?msid=1784493" border=0> EMail http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/photo.cms?msid=2010364" border=0> Write to Editor
LONDON: Royal Air Force fighter jets were scrambled to intercept two Russian bombers heading for British airspace, The Times said on Wednesday, prompting fierce denials of brinkmanship from Moscow.

The newspaper said two RAF Tornadoes from its rapid reaction force took off from RAF base Lemming in northern England to confront the two Tu95 "Bear" bombers after they were shadowed by F-16s from the Royal Norwegian Air Force.

An unnamed RAF spokesman was quoted as saying that the Russian bombers, based near the northern port city of Murmansk in the Arctic Circle, turned back before they reached British airspace.

The Times , which said the incident happened on Tuesday, said there was no evidence to suggest it was linked to Britain's planned expulsion of four diplomats over Russia's stance on the Alexander Litvinenko affair.

Air force colonel Alexander Drobyshevsky was quoted by the news agency Interfax as saying: "Claims that Russ
 
Quote    Reply

Duubz       7/18/2007 4:41:38 PM
h*tp://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article2093759.ece
 
Quote    Reply

AdvanceAustralia    Herc   7/18/2007 4:54:23 PM

After Israel-Palestine, India-Pakistan the British will truly hit a highpoint in screwing the world up. Restart the cold war!!! I mean wasn't it BRitain and FRance that sponsored the TReaty of Versailles?? Well it seems that if Britain can't have its empire, it just will destroy planet eart 1 step a time. LOL.

Herc, its OK, you can relax. Take a deep breath and stop drooling on your bib. You're frothing at the mouth again. Get a grip!

 
Quote    Reply



 Latest
 News
 
 Most
 Read
 
 Most
 Commented
 Hot
 Topics