Blair and Yeltsin to Tackle International Crime

Blair Feted on World Stage

In what has been billed as the historic day which finally laid to rest the Cold War, Mr Blair held court among international statesmen attending the landmark signing of a new security and stability treaty between Russia and the Nato allies.

The fact that Mr Yeltsin picked out Mr Blair for a special meeting was being hailed as a coup that would bolster the Prime Minister's diplomatic clout.

"Out of all the Western leaders in Paris, it is Mr Blair President Yeltsin wants to meet," Foreign Secretary Robin Cook told BBC Radio.

The Prime Minister spent 40 minutes over breakfast in the French capital establishing a new special relationship with Mr Yeltsin.

"You have good eyes, a bright mind, the right age and good experience. Great Britain is in good hands, " the Russian leader told Mr Blair.

UK-US special relationship

The Prime Minister accepted his invitation to visit Moscow later this year when a joint declaration on fighting international crime will be signed.

Later the Foreign Office announced that as part of the new spirit of goodwill, a British drugs liaison officer will be attached to the Moscow embassy from next month.

Britain is already involved in a crime-fighting training project with the St Petersburg police and exchanges are conducted between the Metropolitan Police Academy at Hendon and the Russian Higher Police Academy.

The signing ceremony provided an opportunity for Mr Blair to rub shoulders with other world leaders, enjoying the Parisian sunshine, sipping drinks and discussing Europe's future.

The Prime Minister and Mr Clinton, who chatted and joked comfortably together during the signing ceremony, later held private talks as a prelude to their London meeting.

Officials disclosed that Mr Clinton, who has a great love of Britain, has asked Mr Blair to find time to do some "ordinary" tourist-style things when in London.

Mr Blair also held court in the grounds of the British embassy in Paris with Dutch Premier Wim Kok, the man who will play ringmaster at next month's crucial EU summit in Amsterdam.

A dozen men, including Foreign Secretary Robin Cook, and the Prime Minister's closest aides, held talks in sunshine as they sought to pave the way for the signing of a new EU Treaty.