Putin coming in Oct. to seal strategic link

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, APRIL 28. The Russian President, Mr. Vladimir Putin, will visit India in ``the first 10 days'' of October to establish a strategic partnership for promoting regional stability and shoring up the bilateral economic relationship.

Mr. Putin's visit is being preceded by a revamp of the Indo- Russian institutional framework in the political field. The two sides today signed a protocol which will, for the first time, establish a direct apex link between their security establishments.

Unlike in the past, when the relationship revolved around close inter-ministerial contacts, the new arrangement will bring the security advisers of the two Heads of Government into regular contact. The protocol on the Indian side was signed by the National Security Adviser and Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Mr. Brajesh Mishra. The visiting Secretary of the Russian National Security Council, Mr. Sergei Ivanov, signed the protocol on behalf of his government. This pact is expected to be formalised into an agreement during Mr. Putin's visit. The two sides also agreed to form sub-groups to tackle the menace of international terrorism, arms and drug trafficking and separatism.

The ``Joint Coordination Groups'' were formed within the framework of the Indo-Russian protocol on cooperation. A Foreign Office press statement said the two bodies would also look at the economic, legal and ecological dimensions of security.

Mr. Ivanov handed over a letter from the Russian President to the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee. According to the statement, the letter talks about the importance of Indo-Russian relations for stability and security in Asia and the world. It also calls for cooperation in combating international terrorism, drug trafficking , religious and political extremism.

Mr. Mishra, who along with Mr. Ivanov interacted with mediapersons after the signing ceremony, was cautious in his comments. According to him, the new arrangement was part of a web of institutional contacts between New Delhi and Moscow. Mr. Ivanov, on his part, said the new link was an important element in the overall framework of Indo-Russian contacts for encouraging ``strategic stability'' in the world.

The two officials clarified that the interaction between the two security establishment would not be confined to Central and South Asia alone, notwithstanding the importance of negative developments in these regions on their security. Global issues would be part of the dialogue, Mr. Ivanov said, adding that consultation could cover issues such as nuclear energy, missile technology and Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) treaty.

On Thursday Mr. Ivanov had said the two countries under the new framework would jointly analyse their ``strategic doctrines'', ways to counter international terrorism in the region and expand interaction between security specialists. Cooperation in the military field, including military hardware exchanges was another important element in the bilateral equation. The two sides, however, needed to expand defence cooperation in the information technology arena.

India and Russia have come closer to finalising crucial military hardware deals. Russia's Vice Minister in charge of military hardware exports, Mr. Ilya Klebanov, who is accompanying Mr. Ivanov, held detailed discussions with officials in the Defence Ministry. India is keen on buying 300 T-90 tanks as part of its post-Kargil modernisation plan.

The two countries also signed an agreement for the transfer of Krasnopol precision-guided shells for the Bofors howitzers.

Mr. Alexi Ogarev, who heads the Russian arms trading house, Roosouverezhenie, and is part of the visiting delegation has been involved in negotiations for the possible sale of Russian tanker aircraft to refuel ordinary planes in mid-air.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Front Page
Next     : Khurana relieved of party post