Cablegate: Tokyo Media Reaction - Uk-Russia Relations

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UNCLAS TOKYO 003319

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR I/RF, PA/PR/FPC/W, IIP/G/EA, EAP/PD, R/MR,
EAP/J, EAP/P, PM;
USTR FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE;
TREASURY FOR OASIA/IMI;
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA;
CP BUTLER OKINAWA FOR AREA FIELD OFFICE;
PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO JA
SUBJECT: TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - UK-RUSSIA RELATIONS

LEAD STORIES: Friday morning's Tokyo Shimbun
front-paged a report from Moscow concerning the Russian
Foreign Ministry's announcement that it will expel four
British diplomats stationed in Moscow in retaliation
for Britain's expulsion of four Russian diplomats.

1. "UK-Russia Relations Looking Like New Cold War" The
business-oriented Nihon Keizai editorialized (7/18):
"At a time when US-Russia relations are awkward, ties
between London and Moscow are becoming downright
chilly, and the friction between the two appears so
deep-rooted that coming to terms will not be easy.
Nonetheless, unless steps are taken to prevent
bilateral ties from worsening, it seems possible that
Russia and the West could see their relationship return
to what it was during the Cold War. UK-Russia ties have
been steadily worsening since the killing of former KGB
agent Alexander Litvinenko last November in London....
The British government decided on Monday to expel four
Russian diplomats to protest Moscow's refusal to
extradite a Russian suspect in the killing.... Russian
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reacted strongly to the
British decision, saying it would have serious
repercussions on bilateral relations. Reprisals will be
unavoidable. UK-Russia economic relations, including on
the energy front, have been close.... The further
aggravation of ties would deal a serious blow to both
sides."

SCHIEFFER

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