Britain, Russia pledge anti-terror co-operation
Foreign Desk Report

LONDON—British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged closer co-operation in fighting terrorism as the Russian leader ended a visit to London with an unprecedented tour of Britain’s anti-terror nerve centre. Putin, who flew back to Moscow after honouring a British team who rescued a Russian submarine crew from their stricken vessel in August, hailed the “openness” of his hosts. “Above all, we have begun to understand each other a lot better, trust in each other is growing,” the president told reporters at London’s Heathrow Airport shortly before departing.
On Wednesday morning the two leaders held talks at Downing Street centred around trade — notably Europe’s growing dependence on Russian oil and gas — and terrorism. Blair took his guest on a tour of the top-secret Cobra complex, the briefing room where he and other top ministers gather at times of emergency such as the July 7 London bombings in which 56 people died. There, Putin was briefed by top officials from Britain’s MI5 and MI6 security agencies, and Metropolitan Police’s Anti-Terrorist Branch Putin, the first foreign leader to visit Cobra, told reporters later that he was “appreciative of the candidness which was demonstrated by the British side” in their talks. The two countries released a joint statement beginning: “Today, we reaffirm our utter condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and our determination to strengthen existing co-operation to counter this scourge.”
Blair echoed this sentiment. “Russia and the Russian people, like Britain and the British people, know the threats that this global terrorism poses, but we also share the same spirit of determination not to be defeated by them,” he told reporters. “We had, actually, a fascinating discussion just now about the dangers and the risks that are posed to us. We agreed to work closely together on counter-terrorism for the future,” he added. Putin, who arrived in London late Monday, also met Blair the next day along with leaders of the European Union, whose rotating six-monthly presidency Britain currently holds. Some rights groups have expressed concern that Russian support for US-led efforts against Islamic terrorist groups could mean Washington and London exerting less pressure over alleged abuses in the breakaway republic of Chechnya. However, differences remain, notably Russian anger over Britain’s failure to extradite Akhmed Zakayev, a leading Chechen separatist representative given political asylum.
Also Wednesday, Putin honoured the five British men whose Scorpio remote-controlled vehicle managed to free a Russian submersible in August, cutting it free from nets in which it had become tangled. The seven-man crew had spent three days trapped 190 metres (620 feet) below the surface off the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia’s far east, and had only a few hours’ supply of oxygen left.
The Royal Navy team leader, Commander Ian Riches, received Russia’s Order for Maritime Services along with two experts from the private company which operates the rescue vehicle for the navy. Two other Britons involved in the operation were presented with the Order of Friendship.
“I would like to thank you for the work done, for the mission accomplished and rescue of the Russian seamen,” Putin said at the ceremony, held inside Downing Street’s grand Pillared Room. “The work was done quickly, at a good professional level and most importantly it succeeded”.