Page 8 - ARUBA TODAY

A8 WORLD NEWS
Tuesday 1 augusT 2017
Russia urges US to fix ties as it cuts US diplomatic staff

Putin’s spokesman, Dmi- diplomats and shut down
try Peskov, said it will take two Russian recreational
time for the U.S. to recover retreats in the U.S. follow-
from what he called “politi- ing allegations of Russian
cal schizophrenia,” but he meddling in the 2016 presi-
added that Russia wants dential election. Putin had
constructive cooperation refrained from retaliating
with Washington. until now in the hope that
“We are interested in a President Donald Trump
steady development of our would follow on his cam-
ties and are sorry to note paign promises to improve
that we are still far from ties with Moscow and roll
that,” he said. back the steps taken by
Peskov’s statement fol- Obama.
lowed televised comments The Russian leader hailed his
Sunday by Putin, who said first meeting with Trump on
the U.S. would have to cut the sidelines of the Group
755 of its embassy and of 20 summit in Germany
consular staff in Russia, a earlier in July, saying that
massive reduction he de- the talks offered a model
scribed as a response to for rebuilding relations. But
new U.S. sanctions. the congressional and FBI
The Russian Foreign Ministry investigations into links be-
first announced the cuts Fri- tween Trump’s campaign
day, when it said that the and Russia have weighed
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives to attend the military parade during the Navy Day celebra- U.S. should reduce its pres- heavily on the White House,
tion in St. Petersburg, Russia, on Sunday, July 30, 2017. ence to 455 employees, derailing Moscow’s hopes
(Maxim Shipenkov/Pool Photo via AP) the number that Russia has for an improvement in ties
By V. ISACHENKOV President Vladimir Putin’s more tricks up his sleeve to in the United States. It also that worsened over the
Associated Press move to cut hundreds of hurt the U.S., but he voiced declared the closure of a Ukrainian crisis, the war in
MOSCOW (AP) — Amid a U.S. diplomatic person- hope that he wouldn’t U.S. recreational retreat Syria and other disputes.
major diplomatic retalia- nel in Russia underlines his need to use them. on the outskirts of Moscow The overwhelming en-
tion unseen since the Cold readiness to raise the ante Vice President Mike Pence, and warehouse facilities. dorsement of a new pack-
War era, Russia urged the in the face of new sanc- visiting neighboring Estonia, Moscow’s action is the age of stiff financial sanc-
United States on Monday tions approved by the said he hoped for “better long-expected tit-for-tat tions that passed Congress
to show the “political will” U.S. Congress. The Russian days and better relations response to former U.S. with veto-proof numbers
to repair ties. leader warned that he has with Russia.” President Barack Obama’s last week dealt a new blow
move to expel 35 Russian to Moscow’s aspirations. q
UK PM’s office: free movement

from Eurozone will end in 2019

LONDON (AP) — Free Britain will leave the bloc’s
movement to Britain from single market and customs
European Union coun- union, and end free move-
tries will end when the U.K. ment from EU countries. But
leaves the bloc in March officials also say the chang-
2019, Prime Minister The- es, which have huge eco-
resa May’s spokesman said nomic implications, won’t
Monday. But he acknowl- happen overnight.
edged it’s not yet certain Last week Treasury chief
what migration arrange- Philip Hammond said Brit-
ments will look like after ain will abide by some EU
that. rules for up to three years
Spokesman James Slack post-2019, suggesting some
said that “other elements form of continued free
of the post-Brexit immigra- movement to help busi-
tion system will be brought nesses avoid a “cliff edge.”
forward in due course.” Hammond is one of sev-
“It would be wrong to spec- eral ministers who favor a
ulate on what these might compromise “soft Brexit” to
look like, or to suggest that ease the economic shock
free movement will contin- of leaving the EU.
ue as it is now,” he said. But Trade Secretary Liam
May’s government is divid- Fox, who is strongly pro-
ed on how to implement Brexit, said the Cabinet has
Brexit, and ministers have not agreed a position on
been sending mixed signals immigration policy.
about the U.K.’s future rela- “I have not been involved in
tionship with the bloc. any discussion on that,” Fox
The government says that told the Sunday Times.q