Britain and Russia agreed Tuesday to install a secure telephone hotline to improve communication between their leaders, the government in London said, DPA reported.
Speaking at a joint news conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in London, Britain's Foreign Secretary, William Hague, said the direct line between Downing Street signalled modernization rather than "a return to the Cold War."
"The encrypted line is a very important element of our communications," said Lavrov, citing the need for both countries to increase cooperation on security matters, trade and international relations.
Lavrov is the first top-level Russian official to visit Britain since relations were soured by the radiation poisoning in London of Alexander Litvinenko, a former Russian agent, in 2006.
Britain and Russia to install secure telephone hotline
Britain and Russia agreed Tuesday to install a secure telephone hotline to improve communication between their leaders, the government in London said.
