THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Russia and Britain engaged in a war of words over the people power protests across the Middle East as Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov blasted Western support for demonstrations as counterproductive.Differences between Mr Lavrov and Foreign Secretary William Hague surfaced during a meeting in London designed to display a rapprochement between Whitehall and the Kremlin after years of tension.
Moscow has called for restraint in the face of demonstrations that have shaken long established regimes. Britain and America have, by contrast, demanded that governments bow to the demands of frustrated protesters.
Tunisia and Egypt have seen the departure of their leaders since the demonstrations began and other regimes have been forced into reforms.
With its own record of corruption and authoritarian leaderships, Russia fears the tide of protest will spread to its own backyard.
"I think that we need to encourage all parties to agree between each other," said Mr Lavrov. "I think that it is counterproductive to impose democracy of a specific pattern."
"We have had one revolution in Russia and we don't believe that we need to call for others." >>> Damien McElroy, Foreign Affairs Correspondent | Tuesday, February 15, 2011
