Russian president visits Scottish capital

Scottish First Minister Jack McConnell today welcomed Vladimir Putin and his wife Lyudmila Putina to Edinburgh on the second day of Russian President's state visit to Britain.

Mr Putin's visit is the first by a Russian head of state since Tsar Alexander II made the journey in 1874 – less than 20 years after the Crimean War.

Accompanied by the Duke of York, the President's visit to the capital contained a number of engagements including an address to leading business, academic and political figures.

Welcoming the president, Mr McConnell said: "I am delighted that President Putin has chosen to visit Scotland.

"The links that already exist between our two countries are strong and are continuing to develop. Many Scottish companies are doing business in Russia and we have a growing Russian contingent at our academic institutions. The challenge is to capitalise on this."

Following his visit to Scotland, President Putin will meet for talks and lunch with Tony Blair at Downing Street tomorrow. This will be followed by a joint press conference at the Foreign Office. Both the Prime Minister and President Putin will then take part in a DTI conference.

The state visit, which began yesterday, was marked with a full military parade on Horse Guards for the President and the Queen. In her speech at the state banquet in Buckingham Palace last night, the Queen recalled how, during her state visit in 1994, she and President Yeltsin doubted that a reciprocal visit could take place.

She added: "I am just as delighted now, nine years later, to be able to welcome you here and to learn about the great changes which have occurred in your country since I was there. Russia has established itself as our partner and our friend: we work together bilaterally and on the international stage, and we are developing new links all the time, in fields of commerce, culture, and counter-terrorism, of energy, education, the environment.

Also yesterday, the Russian destroyer Neustrashimiy moored in the Thames off the Old Royal Navy College at Greenwich, visiting London as part of President Putin's visit to the UK.

The Neustrashimiy will host a ceremony on 27 June, when the UK signs the Arctic Military Environment Cooperation (AMEC) agreement, to which the Russians, Norwegians and US are already party.

A particular focus of cooperative work under AMEC has been to address the risks of radioactive contamination of the Arctic environment, particularly with regard to decommissioned Russian nuclear submarines.

(GMcG)