BERLIN, July 20 (RIA Novosti) - Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Friday that Russia is ready to improve relations with Britain, strained over the Litvinenko murder case, if mutual respect and common sense prevail on both sides.
"We are interested in normalizing relations between Russia and Britain," Lavrov told journalists in Berlin. "We believe relations should be based on common sense and respect for each other's interests."
"With such an approach, all problems could be resolved, and we are prepared for that," Lavrov said, reiterating however that London was politicizing the case.
On Thursday, Russia expelled four British diplomats, suspended antiterrorism cooperation with Britain, and said it would stop issuing visas to British officials.
The moves came following similar measures by London amid a bitter row over Moscow's refusal to extradite Andrei Lugovoi, the main suspect in poisoning former security officer Alexander Litvinenko, a British national.
Lavrov also said London was the first to cease cooperation in fighting terrorism by suspending contacts with the Federal Security Service (FSB), Russia's main antiterrorism body.
"Russia has not rejected antiterrorism cooperation with Britain. It was Britain that rejected it," the minister said.
