Russian Foreign Minister in Town

I guess you'll read about it tomorrow, but the Russian Foreign Minister,

Sergey Lavrov





is in town today for a couple of days. He'll meet Salim bin Mohammed al Riyami, and if he's sensible maybe score some free fishing and snorkeling.

Sergey is a professional diplomat (which I very much prefer to political apparatchiks). And a heavy smoker. Dude, you gotta love the ... ah fuck it! attitude of the Russians...

David Miliband subjected to 'F-word tirade' from Russian foreign minister Lavrov
David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, was allegedly subjected to a tirade of four-letter abuse when he spoke to his Russian counterpart over the country's invasion of Georgia.

The Daily Telegraph can disclose that Sergei Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, reacted with fury when Mr Miliband and [sic UD] he spoke on the telephone. Mr Lavrov is said to have objected to being lectured by the British.

It was alleged that such was the repeated use of the "F-word", one insider who has seen the transcript, said it was difficult to draft a readable note of the conversation.

Mr Lavrov said: "Who are you to f------ lecture me?" He also asked Mr Miliband in blunt terms whether he knew anything of Russia's history.

The incident is set to add to pressure on the already strained diplomatic relations between Britain and Russia. [no shit, Sherlock - UD]

Mr Lavrov insisted that he had not sworn at Mr Miliband and accused the Foreign Office of trying to smear his reputation. He said that he was taking the "unusual step" of declassifying and releasing the Russian transcript of the conversation.
...

Excellent. When a professional diplomat tells you to fuck off, you really should start to look inward a little more I suspect. And lets face it, would you want Mr Miliband defending your corner in the big, bad world? Or Someone called Sergei who smokes and has been doing serious diplomacy all his life?



I'll go with the guy on the right. Perhaps not as a son-in-law, but as Foreign Sec? Yep. I want to go drinking with this guy. (I hate this British system of talented amateurs when it comes to important stuff like Foreign affairs)

Discussions here will undoubtedly NOT involve the F word, and will instead be immensely cordial, and will be focused on the situation in the middle east, Israel & Iran, Oman's interests in Kazakhstan and the wider FSU+ perhaps [like Belarus and Bulgaria], and opportunities for mutual trade, investment and cooperation between the two friendly nations undoubtedly [ref recent visit by uber-connected Mayor of Moscow].

My boys in the Foreign Ministry seem awfully keen to give him the super VIP treatment. Hmmmm? Maybe the Russians really want access to a fantastic warm water port?!!? I'm pretty sure a large investment into a place called Duqm would do wonders for Omani-Ruski relations right now...

Just a suggestion Sergei.