UK, Russia to discuss visas issues
British Prime Minister David Cameron calls for better business ties with Russia and plans to discuss speeding up visa issuance during his visit to Moscow today.
Russia is among the top three countries to get visas to the UK (together with India and China). Every 16th visa to the UK is given to a citizen of Russia.
- 96 percent of all visa applications from Russians in 2011 have been approved, he said in a speech at the Moscow State University, adding that he does not see any problems between Russia and the UK in visa questions, RIA Novosti reports.
Cameron will meet Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and President Dmitry Medvedev during a visit to Moscow on September 12, and plans to discuss visa issues with the two leaders.
The Prime Minister says that the UK fully supports Russia’s accession bid to the World Trade Organization, believing it will promote business development between the two countries, Russia Today reports.
This is the first time visit to Russia by a British prime minister since former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko died in London from poisoning by radioactive polonium-210 in 2006.
Moscow has refused an extradition request from the Government for Andrei Lugovoi, a former KGB bodyguard now serving in the Russian parliament. He was suspected of poisoning Mr Litvinenko, who had been given asylum in London and wrote books accusing Mr Putin and his allies of planting bombs and murdering an investigative journalist.
The killing sent diplomatic ties between the two countries to a post-cold war low. London and Moscow expelled diplomats while the UK halted talks on easing visa rules and Russia stopped the British Council from operating in two Russian cities, Reuters reports.
