UK seeking to ensure Russia sanctions do not harm City of London Government document photographed outside No 10 states that Londons financial centre should not be closed to Russians Britain is drawing up plans to ensure that any EU action against Russia over Ukraine will exempt the City of London, according to a secret government document photographed in Downing Street. As David Cameron said Britain and its EU partners would put pressure on Moscow after it assumed control of Crimea, a government document drawn up for a meeting of senior ministers said that Londons financial centre should not be closed to Russians. It did say that visa restrictions and travel bans could be imposed on Russian officials. The picture of the document was taken by the freelance photographer Steve Back, who specialises in spotting secret documents carried openly by officials entering Downing Street. The document was in the hands of an unnamed official attending a meeting of the national security council (NSC) called by the prime minister to discuss the Ukrainian crisis. The document said Britain should: • Not support, for now, trade sanctions … or close Londons financial centre to Russians. • Be prepared to join other EU countries in imposing visa restrictions/travel bans on Russian officials. • Discourage any discussions (eg at Nato) of contingency military preparations. • Embark on contingency EU work on providing Ukraine with alternative gas [supplies] if Russia cuts them off. • Specific threats to Russia should be contingent and used for private messaging while public statements should stick to generic point. • Draw up a technical assistance package for Ukraine ideally jointly with Germany. • Pursue the deployment of OSCE and/or UN (but not EU) monitors in Crimea and eastern Ukraine. • Push the UN secretary general Ban to take the lead in calling and creating a forum for engaging Russia on Ukraine. • Accept an emergency summit of EU leaders to discuss Ukraine. This will now be held in Brussels on Thursday.
Posted on: Tue, 04 Mar 2014 01:37:12 +0000
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