British Prime Minister David Cameron is on a one-day trip to Russia aimed at thawing relations and strengthening business despite a long-running dispute over the murder of a Kremlin critic in London five years ago.
Speaking in Moscow, British Prime Minister David Cameron tells students that the U.K. and Russia share many concerns and goals.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH PRIME MINISTER DAVID CAMERON MAKING SPEECH
"Moscow and London have both been victims of horrific terrorist attack. We need to unite against the threat of terrorism, the warped ideology that underpins it, we need to work together with our international partners to prevent countries like Iran acquiring nuclear weapons and as new technologies develop, to allow us to defend ourselves better against the threat of ballistic missiles from rogue states, we need to cooperate to ensure they make us all safer."
Cameron is also hoping the landmark talks will boost business relations with the help of $354 million dollars worth of deals expected to be sealed during the trip.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH PRIME MINISTER DAVID CAMERON
"I've talked to many British businesses, I have no doubt about their ambition to work in Russia and it's also clear that the concerns that continue to make them - to hold them back, are real concerns. They need to know that they can go to a court confident that a contract will be enforced objectively, and that their assets and their premises will not be unlawfully taken away from them. In the long run, the rule of law is what delivers stability and security."
Cameron, who met with President Dmitry Medvedev earlier, is also expected to speak to Prime Minister Vladimir Putin later Monday
But it will likely take more than a quick stopover to repair relations, which are at post-Cold war low.
Jessica Gray, Reuters
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