TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - UK-RUSSIA RELATIONS

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