British PM urges Russia to uphold rule of law
September 12th, 2011 - 6:15 pm ICT by IANS
Moscow, Sep 12 (IANS/RIA Novosti) British businesses need guarantees that assets will not be “unlawfully taken away from them” before they can start work in Russia, British Prime Minister David Cameron said Monday during a visit to Moscow.
“I’ve talked to many British businesses. I have no doubt about their ambition to work in Russia, but it’s also clear that the concerns that continue to make them hold back are real,” Cameron told students at the Moscow State University.
“They need to know that they can go to a court confident that a contract will be enforced objectively and that their assets and premises won’t be unlawfully taken away from them. In the long run, the rule of law is what delivers stability and security,” he said.
Cameron is accompanied by a large business delegation on the first visit by a British prime minister to Russia since 2005.
He said Britain and Russia still disagree over the death of former KGB officer Alexander Litvinenko in London in 2006.
“We still disagree with you over the Litvinenko case. On that, let me say this. Our approach is simple and principled. When a crime is committed that is a matter for the courts. It is their job to examine the evidence impartially and to determine innocence or guilt,” Cameron said.
Cameron is expected to meet Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin during his brief visit.
Speaking before his departure from London, Cameron said he hoped the two countries could make progress and cooperate for mutual benefit.
“Although our differences in recent years are well known, we face many similar challenges and both the president and I believe that we can make more progress by working together on matters of real importance for the prosperity and security of people in both countries,” he said.
Alexander Litvinenko, a former spy of the Russian federal security service, FSB and KGB, escaped prosecution in Russia and received political asylum in Britain. He wrote two books, where he accused the secret services of staging bombings to bring Vladimir Putin to power.
In November 2006, Litvinenko became the first confirmed victim of lethal polonium-210-induced acute radiation syndrome, according to media reports.
Later, Britain accused Putin’s secret agents of murdering Litvinenko.
–IANS/RIA Novosti
pm/vt
- For four years, Putin refused to talk to Britain - Sep 09, 2011
- Russian president loses temper at press conference - Sep 13, 2011
- Cameron to visit Moscow - Sep 07, 2011
- Putin knew about plot to 'assassinate' former Russian spy in London: Wikileaks - Dec 02, 2010
- Putin spy posters put up in Moscow - Jul 15, 2011
- Putin denies Russia wants to revive Soviet Union - Oct 18, 2011
- Trade between Russia, China to reach $70 bn: Putin - Sep 15, 2011
- China no threat to Russia: Putin - Oct 18, 2011
- West seeks Iran regime change: Putin - Feb 25, 2012
- Putin wants performance checks for bureaucrats - Feb 04, 2012
- Putin confirms Medvedev to be PM, given election win - Dec 02, 2011
- Russia needs more foreign investment: Putin - May 03, 2012
- Russians head for polls to elect new president - Mar 04, 2012
- Putin trains with Russian ice hockey legends - Nov 19, 2011
- Medvedev, Hu to discuss economic ties Thursday - Jun 16, 2011
Tags: alexander litvinenko, ambition, british businesses, british prime minister, business delegation, david cameron, dmitry medvedev, federal security service, fsb, innocence, kgb officer, minister david, moscow state university, mutual benefit, no doubt, political asylum, ria novosti, rule of law, russian president, vladimir putin