Russia expels US diplomats By Astrid Wendlandt in Moscow Published: March 23 2001 19:35GMT | Last Updated: March 24 2001 01:33GMT

Russia on Friday ordered four US diplomats to leave the country and warned of further retaliatory measures in response to Washington's move this week to expel 50 Russian diplomats for alleged involvement.

Moscow's response deepened the worst diplomatic chill between the two countries since the end of the cold war. But both sides indicated on Friday they expected the dispute to be short-lived. President George W. Bush indicated the US would not retaliate in turn.

"The president now considers the matter closed," said Ari Fleischer, White House spokesman.

Speaking directly to reporters, Mr Bush stressed the incident should not jeopardise prospects for a meeting between him and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"They'll just understand that my administration is one that takes firm positions ... when we think we're right and that doesn't preclude the ability, for example, for Mr Putin and me to meet at some point in time and have a good honest discussion about common interests," he said.

Earlier on Friday, Russia's foreign ministry told John Ordway, deputy chief of mission at the US embassy in Moscow, that four members of the US diplomatic corps would have to leave "in the coming days" for "activities incompatible with their status", a euphemism for spying.

The ministry also announced it would take further steps to "stop illegal activities of official US representatives in Russia".

The move came in response to the US expulsion of four Russian diplomats from Washington and the decision to expel another 46 Russian diplomats by July 1.

Mr Putin, in Stockholm for talks with EU leaders, also tried to play down the diplomatic dispute. Asked if the recent hostile exchange would cause tensions between the two countries, Mr Putin, himself a former KGB spy, said: "I do not think so."

Sergei Yastrzhembsky, an aide to Mr Putin, said Russia would match the US expulsions one-for-one but predicted the spy dispute would eventually run out of steam.

However, some Russian officials said the spying controversy would hamper bilateral co-operation in the near future. "For the next few months, one can forget about fruitful co-operation between Russian and US special services," said Sergei Ivanov, secretary of the influential Security Council. He said areas that could be affected included co-operation on anti-terrorism measures, proliferation of nuclear and missile technologies and anti-drug trafficking.

In Washington, Colin Powell, US secretary of state, speaking to a newspaper association meeting, said he did not think the dispute would totally derail relations with Russia. "Our relationship continues and we'll see what we can do to isolate this one incident."

Russia expels US diplomats By Astrid Wendlandt in Moscow Published: March 23 2001 19:35GMT | Last Updated: March 24 2001 01:33GMT

Russia on Friday ordered four US diplomats to leave the country and warned of further retaliatory measures in response to Washington's move this week to expel 50 Russian diplomats for alleged involvement.

Moscow's response deepened the worst diplomatic chill between the two countries since the end of the cold war. But both sides indicated on Friday they expected the dispute to be short-lived. President George W. Bush indicated the US would not retaliate in turn.

"The president now considers the matter closed," said Ari Fleischer, White House spokesman.

Speaking directly to reporters, Mr Bush stressed the incident should not jeopardise prospects for a meeting between him and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"They'll just understand that my administration is one that takes firm positions ... when we think we're right and that doesn't preclude the ability, for example, for Mr Putin and me to meet at some point in time and have a good honest discussion about common interests," he said.

Earlier on Friday, Russia's foreign ministry told John Ordway, deputy chief of mission at the US embassy in Moscow, that four members of the US diplomatic corps would have to leave "in the coming days" for "activities incompatible with their status", a euphemism for spying.

The ministry also announced it would take further steps to "stop illegal activities of official US representatives in Russia".

The move came in response to the US expulsion of four Russian diplomats from Washington and the decision to expel another 46 Russian diplomats by July 1.

Mr Putin, in Stockholm for talks with EU leaders, also tried to play down the diplomatic dispute. Asked if the recent hostile exchange would cause tensions between the two countries, Mr Putin, himself a former KGB spy, said: "I do not think so."

Sergei Yastrzhembsky, an aide to Mr Putin, said Russia would match the US expulsions one-for-one but predicted the spy dispute would eventually run out of steam.

However, some Russian officials said the spying controversy would hamper bilateral co-operation in the near future. "For the next few months, one can forget about fruitful co-operation between Russian and US special services," said Sergei Ivanov, secretary of the influential Security Council. He said areas that could be affected included co-operation on anti-terrorism measures, proliferation of nuclear and missile technologies and anti-drug trafficking.

In Washington, Colin Powell, US secretary of state, speaking to a newspaper association meeting, said he did not think the dispute would totally derail relations with Russia. "Our relationship continues and we'll see what we can do to isolate this one incident."

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-- meg davis (meg9999@al.com), March 23, 2001