Ambassador points to 'normalization' of UK-Russia relations
LONDON. Nov 29 (Interfax) - The relations between Russia and the United Kingdom "are gradually going back to normal," Russian Ambassador to the UK Alexander Yakovenko said.
"British investors have confirmed the priority of Russia for their interests, and the bilateral relations are gradually going back to normal," Yakovenko said at the opening of the Russian banking forum held under the aegis of the Adam Smith Institute in London on Tuesday.
Russia "believes that opportunities for broadening business cooperation with the UK and British investors will only grow," he said.
This September saw the first visit to Russia by a British head of government over the past five years, the diplomat recalled. "It resulted in the common understanding that modern realities, including in the context of the post-crisis recovery, require our countries to apply a more pragmatic, long-term approach toward building healthy, political relations for the future," Yakovenko said.
"The first step in this direction has been made. Our countries' leaders signed the Declaration on a Knowledge-Based Partnership for Modernization, which sets out the key areas and spheres of the so-called "smart" joint investments and projects in high technologies, infrastructure, energy and energy efficiency, the financial services market, and the Olympic legacy," the Russian diplomat said.
"Concrete investment memoranda have been signed, and agreements have been reached on the bilateral cooperation with the Skolkovo Foundation, the Russian Fund for Direct Investment, which is due to be presented in London in the next few months, in the field of tourism," the ambassador said.
He also highlighted the prospects for bilateral cooperation between regions.
"The Embassy in London is organizing a series of presentations of Russian regions involving regional officials and businesses. In addition, we are planning, under the aegis of the governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, to tell Russian investors about opportunities to work in these British regions. The first such meeting with Scottish leaders is due to be held at the Russian Embassy in January 2012," Yakovenko said.