Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has visited London for talks with his British counterpart Foreign Secretary William Hague. Their goal was to reanimate international relations which look very bad after series of spy scandals and especially after exile journalist Luke Harding from Moscow for some publications. A special hot line will tie London with Moscow in order to upgrade communications between the two countries.
      
      The ministers have signed an agreement about creating secured phone line. It will connect British PM with Russian President. Mr Hague admitted that the UK and Russia "don't always see eye to eye". "But it shouldn't stop us from working together," he said.
      
      It is a reminder that last time relations between Russia and Great Britain are characterized by rows. The greatest scandal was tied with death of former KGB officers Alexander Litvinenko, died of radiation poisoning in a London hospital, and refusal of the Russian side to to extradite a suspect in his killing, Andrei Lugovoi.
      
      Hot link could be associated with the Cold War time, but "it is about modernizing an important communication link for a modern relationship" - Hague said. The hotline announced by the two countries is a secure encrypted link rather than a separate room with a phone in it.
      
      The old problems should be solved in a way which won't disturb work in the conflictless areas. Some steps are made towards simplifying visa arrangements between the two countries. Moreover, Mr Lavrov said economic links between Russia and the UK were "on the rise".
      Next year William Hague is awaited to visit Russia.
      



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Author: Yulia Buzykina