India And Russia - I

[Arun_S]

[size="4"][color="blue"][/color][/size][url="http://www.hindu.com/2010/03/13/stories/2010031356740100.htm"][size="4"][color="blue"]India and Russia identify new areas for partnership [/color][/size][/url]

Sandeep Dikshit Agreements sealed in defence and strategic spheres [size="-2"] — Photo: V.V. Krishnan [/size]





NEW DELHI: India and Russia on Friday sealed agreements in the defence and strategic spheres besides taking steps to extend their partnership in new areas such as energy, mining and fertilizers. Both sides also [color="#0000ff"]had detailed discussions on regional and global issues and agreed to intensify consultations on Afghanistan and the challenges posed by terrorism and extremism in the region[/color].



“In the run-up to, and during Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's visit, we have finalised several important and long-pending defence cooperation projects which will deepen our longstanding partnership in this vital sector. We have signed the Inter-Governmental Agreement on Cooperation in Atomic Energy and agreed upon a Roadmap for construction of nuclear power plants.



A [color="#0000ff"]Memorandum of Understanding for bilateral cooperation in Russia's satellite navigation system has been agreed upon[/color],'' Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said in a statement shortly after concluding delegation-level talks with Mr. Putin. Dr. Singh also referred to the agreement on strengthening cooperation in hydrocarbons through greater collaboration between the oil and gas companies of Russia and India. Agreements have been signed in the areas of fertilizers.



“We have identified information technology and telecommunications as focus areas for our future economic cooperation,'' he added.



Exhaustive discussions between officials from both sides basically attempted to close deals pending for months and years, identifying new areas of cooperation and narrowing varying views on sectors such as the time schedule for putting up new nuclear plants.



“We should not see this visit as a one-off affair. Rather, the discussions today are a continuation of the dialogue that has been taking place nearly every month between specialised delegations. So, on one hand we have several military agreements that have been in the pipeline for a long time. We also had talks on energy that takes discussions on this subject forward. Space and nuclear cooperation are the other areas where, like energy, there has been steady progress,'' said officials associated with the talks.



Describing Mr. Putin as the “architect'' of the strategic partnership between India and Russia, Dr. Singh said India owed a “deep sense of gratitude” to him for bringing the two countries so close to each other. Mr. Putin made the first of his five visits to the country a decade ago and since then has been the Chief Guest at the Republic Day parade in 2007. On his visit to Moscow in December last year, Dr. Singh had been closeted with the former two-term Russian President during which both sides discussed ironing out the wrinkles from the bilateral relationship.