The British secretary for foreign and Commonwealth affairs, who has arrived on a visit to Moscow, gave an exclusive interview to Interfax correspondents Renat Abdullin and Alexander Korzun.

Mr Secretary, you last visited Moscow in October 2001. What prompted this long break? Is there currently bad blood between our countries?

Certainly not. I greatly regret the gap in my visits. Sadly, busy schedules make it difficult to find time for formal visits. But I see Serge

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i Lavrov regularly, in fact we met only last week in Istanbul. The same was true for Igor Ivanov, who I look forward to seeing in his new post. And the Prime Minister has met President Putin twice in the last month. The UK and Russia have many reasons to talk and work together and shared interests, not least economic: the UK is now the largest investor in Russia. Where there are differences, we need to discuss these too.

Four years ago, Prime Minister Tony Blair was the first leader to believe in the new Russian leadership and call for encouraging Russias comprehensive integration with the West. Has London preserved this outlook?

Yes. . Nowadays, partnership between Russia and the West is not only possible, but essential. We have many mutual interests and we know we have to work together for the common good. As for Russia under President Putin, we have been impressed by the great steps forward, for example on economic stability. President Putin stated on his re-election that his priorities include the strengthening of democracy, bolstering civil society, and ensuring media freedom. We welcomed those priorities: if these changes are made, they will mean greater and closer partnership with the West.

Is Russias full integration into the greater Europe possible or will Russia always remain at best a privileged partner for the West and the Euro-Atlantic institutions?

The question of further integration with the rest of Europe is really a question for Russia itself. The path Russia chooses will very much determine the degree of integration that is possible.

The settlement efforts in Iraq have entered a new phase. Do you believe Russia could play a more active political, economic, or even military role in the post-occupation period in that country?

The sovereign Iraqi Interim Government faces many tough challenges in the months ahead towards elections. As UNSCR 1546 makes clear the international community should help the Iraqi people through the new government to improve security, reduce unemployment and Iraqs debt burden and deliver essential services. We welcome Russias support for the new Iraqi government in all these areas.

How long do you think there will be a need for a foreign, including British, military presence in Iraq?

The mandate of the multinational force under UNSCR 1546 ends at the end of the political process which was agreed by Iraq and the UN (set for end December 2005). Whether the multinational force leaves before that date or is extended is ultimately a question for the Iraqi Government; such a change would certainly reflect the overall security situation in Iraq at the time any decision is taken by the Iraqi Government. Russian participation is a question for Russia.

Does the UK share the US position on the existence of so-called rogue states facilitating the spread of terrorism? Can the Iraqi model of pacification be applied to those states?

Rogue states can contribute to the spread of terrorism, but terrorism is a global problem which we must all work to combat. The UK remains committed to combatting terrorism and support for terrorism through full implementation of international standards. There is no simple model for combatting terrorism but we will continue to work on a case-by-case basis to do so (eg using Security Council approved sanctions to force Libya to renounce terrorism).

Britain has been actively engaged in resolving the problems of weapons of mass destruction in Iran and Libya. Does the UK share the US concerns over Russias nuclear cooperation with Iran?

Russia has agreed with each resolution of the IAEA Board of Governors sponsored by the EU 3. We believe Russia shares our determination to ensure that Irans nuclear programme is used for exclusively civilian purposes. Russia is, like the UK, a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, which seeks to contribute to the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons through the implementation of Guidelines for nuclear exports and nuclear related exports. Russias co-operation with Iran takes place in this context.

Russia is being responsible in insisting on the return of spent fuel from the Bushehr reactor before signing the contract for fuel supply. I wholeheartedly support this position.

Britain refused to extradite emissary of the Chechen separatists Akhmed Zakayev to Russia, and it also traditionally supports draft resolutions drawn up by the UN Commission on Human Rights condemning Russias actions in Chechnya. Does this mean that Britain does not view Russias fight against Chechen terrorists as lying within the mainstream of the international antiterrorist coalitions activity?

Let me make it clear that the decision over Zakayevs extradition was made by the courts, after full consideration of the case brought by the Russian prosecutors. We have always fully supported Russias fight against terrorism and acknowledged the genuine security problems it faces in Chechnya. We have condemned the recent attacks in Ingushetia and the assassination of Chechen President Kadyrov. The lesson we have learned the hard way in Northern Ireland is that a stable, long-term solution can only be reached if you create a genuine political process and deal firmly with human rights abuses. The new Presidential elections in Chechnya are an opportunity to build up the political process and aid efforts to bring stability to the Republic.

Could you explain why Britain has not included Chechen extremists groupings on the list of terrorist organizations, which, for instance, the US has done?

The UK has taken action against Chechen extremist groupings. Three Chechen terrorist organisations have been subjected to UK asset freezing: the Islamic International Brigade, the Special Purpose Islamic Regiment and the Riyadus Salikhin Reconnaissance and Sabotage Battalion, as well as Shamil Basayev, notorious Chechen extremist leader. The UK supported the listing by the UN of Basayev and these three groups in accordance with Security Council Resolution 1267, as being associated with Al-Qaida or the Taleban. The UK can proscribe terrorist organisations where there is a case to do so, under the Terrorism Act 2000. The government keeps the list of proscribed organisations constantly under close review and will amend it when necessary. We welcome additional information to inform our review of this list.

Interfax 02.06.2004