'No tradeoffs' over Litvinenko murder
Foreign secretary David Miliband says 'no tradeoffs' with Russia over murder of former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko
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Monday, 02, Nov 2009 01:25
By Matthew Champion.
There is no scope for 'tradeoffs' with Russia over the murder of former KGB operative Alexander Litvinenko, David Miliband has insisted during a visit to Moscow.
Mr Miliband, making his first trip to Russia since becoming foreign secretary, said he had discussed Mr Litvinenko's death with his counterpart Sergei Lavrov "in detail".
In November 2006 former KGB agent Mr Litvinenko died in a London hospital from polonium-210 poisoning.
British prosecutors have issued an arrest warrant over the murder of the 44-year-old, who defected to the west and converted to Islam in 2000, for another former KGB operative, Andrey Lugovoy.
But Russian authorities have resisted any attempt to extradite Mr Lugovoy, now an elected member of the Duma.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Mr Lavrov, Mr Miliband reiterated that the UK had submitted "substantial information" to Russian prosecutors over what he termed a "horrific murder".
"We continue to seek justice for him," the foreign secretary said, adding he was "absolutely open" about the importance Britain attached to contentious issues between the two countries.
He admitted there were "other areas where there is more common ground where we are determined to work together" but insisted "we do not trade them off".
"We don't compromise on areas of difference by searching for common ground on areas of agreement."
Mr Miliband said the relationship between the two countries was one of "depth and breadth", characterised by being "principled, clear and hard-headed" on both sides.
"Our bilateral relationship will not prevent us from working together on the international stage," he explained.
Mr Lavrov earlier said the dialogue between him and Mr Miliband had touched on "certain issues in our relations that remain unresolved".
"We closely cooperate with Britain in a wide range of international key problems, where united efforts of all countries that in one way or other may contribute to their resolution, are really needed," he added.