Another dispute with the Russians

The UK-Russia row over the murder of former KGB officer Alexander Litvinenko, who was poisoned with radioactive polonium-210 in London last November, is cause for concern but should not be allowed to escalate any further. The dispute has so far resulted in the tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions from both capitals and one hopes that there will now be a cooling down period.

The clash arose after British authorities said enough evidence existed to prosecute another former Russian agent, Andrei Lugovi, for the murder of Mr Litvinenko, and demanded his extradition to the UK. However, the Russian constitution forbids the extradition of any Russian citizen, and the Kremlin flatly refused to hand him over, saying it would be prepared to try him in Moscow instead.

Russia's Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, has blamed new British Prime Minister Gordon Brown for the deterioration in relations, saying: "We understand that when a new government comes to power in any country, it is seeking to find its place, so to say, seeking its own line." I'm not sure this is a correct analysis as I'm sure Mr Brown would have acted on the legal advice of his Foreign Office, as would his predecessor, Tony Blair.

However, one could make the point that both the new Prime Minister and the new Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, wanted to give the impression that the government would act in a tough manner in such circumstances.

This Anglo-Russian row is just the latest in a series of disputes between Moscow and the West. In February, for example, Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a scathing attack on the US and NATO at a Munich security conference, accusing them of harming Russian interests.

Last week Mr Putin retaliated against American plans to place missile defence plants in Poland and the Czech Republic by suspending Russia's participation in the Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty, which limits the number of conventional weapons that can be used in Europe.

He had earlier threatened to point Russian nuclear missiles at major European cities unless the Americans dropped their plans for these installations in Eastern Europe.

The latest move by the Russians, that of withdrawing from the Conventional Forces Treaty, will not cause a new arms race, nor is it a particularly dangerous development, but it does further poison the atmosphere between Moscow and the West. Likewise, the diplomatic expulsions between Russia and the UK are not in themselves a very serious development, but they do contribute to an overall deterioration of relations between the two sides as well as an unhealthy relationship which is in nobody's interest.

There is no doubt that the British government viewed the Litvinenko case very seriously and had to respond - or at least be seen to respond - in a tough manner. The fact that a highly radioactive substance was used in the murder - which raised wider issues of public safety - was of great concern to the authorities in the UK.

However, the constitutional restraint placed on the Kremlin which prevented it from handing over Mr Lugovi was a sure recipe for a prolonged stalemate in this dispute. On the one hand Britain had to show that it would not tolerate such hideous crimes within its territory and at the same time Russia was legally bound not to hand over this suspect.

Both countries acted in the way they thought was right but what is important now is that both countries try not to allow a further deterioration in their relations. Speaking in the House of Commons Mr Miliband emphasised that Russia was a key player on the international stage and that the UK wanted good relations with Moscow.

The aim behind the expulsion of four Russian diplomats, he said, was intended to send "a clear and proportionate signal" to Russia. He also announced that discussions to speed up visa procedures for Russian citizens will be suspended.

The measures announced by Mr Miliband as well as the Russian retaliatory expulsion of four UK diplomats in Moscow are not particularly serious but the question is whether relations will now be frozen or perhaps even get worse. Britain certainly acknowledges the importance of Russia in the international arena and considering the strong economic ties between the two countries it is certainly in nobody's interest to allow this dispute to get out of hand.

However, there are two aspects here which need to be considered. The first is whether this dispute will simply worsen an already tense relationship between Russia and the West, and the second is that even if the Kremlin was not directly involved in the murder of Mr Litvinenko it should understand that such actions are clearly unacceptable. Mr Putin should immediately launch an internal inquiry to see just who was responsible for this killing.

My gut feeling is that there are rogue elements of the former KGB which are operating outside the direct control of the Kremlin. In any case Mr Putin must realise that Mr Litvinenko's killing greatly damaged Russia's image and reputation and he must do everything possible to bring those responsible to justice.

This latest Anglo-Russian dispute, coupled with Russia's uneasiness about its new role in the post-Soviet era, its energy disputes with is neighbours, its creeping authoritarianism and the American missile defence plans in Eastern Europe, has done nothing to improve ties between Russia and the West.

It would be wrong to speak of a new Cold War, however both sides need to reassess their relationship in order to prevent it from going into a deep freeze.