Putin congratulates Vajpayee

By Vladimir Radyuhin

MOSCOW, JAN. 28. Russia's Acting President, Mr. Vladimir Putin, will visit India after the March 26 Presidential elections, which he is strongly favoured to win.

Mr. Putin conveyed his plans for an India visit in a telephone conversation with the Prime Minister, Mr. A. B. Vajpayee, on January 27, diplomatic sources said. The Russian leader, who also holds the post of Prime Minister, called his Indian counterpart to congratulate him on the 50th anniversary of the Republic of India.

During the 30-minute conversation, the Russian and Indian leaders reaffirmed their intention to sign a declaration on strategic partnership between the two countries during the coming summit, the sources said.

The summit has been repeatedly postponed due to the health problems of Russia's former President, Mr. Boris Yeltsin, who resigned ahead of his time on December 31.

The Kremlin press service said the sides ``expressed satisfaction about the proximity of approaches of Russia and India on the main international problems.''

``The leaders noted the commonalties of views related to the need for unity of action by the international community with the aim of liquidation of the threat of international terrorism and extremism,'' the Kremlin press service said.

The diplomatic sources also said Mr. Putin and Mr. Vajpayee had agreed to work together to combat international terrorism.

On Thursday, Moscow blasted Islamabad for engaging in cross- border terrorism against India and harbouring terrorist groups on Pakistani territory.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : International
Previous : Debate over Army recruitment in Sri Lanka
Next     : Haider factor worries Europeans