Indian support for NMD not at Russia's cost

By C. Raja Mohan

NEW DELHI, MAY 4. Pressing ahead with its latest diplomatic rope trick, India today dispelled apprehensions that its strong support for the National Missile Defence plan may undermine its traditional partnership with Russia. The Government, which stunned the world with its enthusiastic welcome to the U.S. proposals for nuclear reductions and missile defences earlier this week, today reassured the visiting Russian Foreign Minister, Mr. Igor Ivanov, that India remained empathetic to Moscow's security concerns.

At a joint press conference this evening with Mr. Ivanov, the Defence and External Affairs Minister, Mr. Jaswant Singh, fully backed the Russian position on the 1972 Anti- Ballistic Missile (ABM) treaty that restricts the development of missile defences. Pointing to the importance of the ABM treaty between Russia and America, Mr. Singh declared that it ``should not be abrogated unilaterally''. He also welcomed the Bush administration's decision ``to engage Russia in a dialogue'' on missile defences.

Fully endorsing the views of Mr. Singh on the ABM treaty, Mr. Ivanov said the approaches of India and Russia on missile defences ``mostly coincide''. The Indian and Russian Foreign Ministers will now meet every year as part of new mechanism for consultations on international security. Earlier in the day, Mr. Ivanov held delegation-level talks with Mr. Singh.

Russia is not opposed to the idea of NMD per se; it has offered its own plans for building missile defences to the Europeans. Russia, however, insists that any transition towards a new nuclear order must be through a negotiated agreement between Moscow and Washington.

Ivanov meets Vajpayee

At the end of a 45-minute meeting between Mr. Ivanov and the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, this morning, the two sides agreed that any modification of the ABM treaty between Russia and America should be through ``mutual consultations and understanding''.

At the press conference, Mr. Ivanov did not criticise the latest plans by the U.S. to build missile defences. He reiterated Russia's acceptance of the offer by the U.S. President, Mr. George Bush, for consultations on the subject. He said Russia was looking forward to consultations with the U.S. at the expert level, and that Moscow has specific proposals to offer on nuclear reductions and missile defences to the American side.

Mr. Ivanov reiterated that Russia was prepared for deep cuts in nuclear arsenals and that its approach was ``in tune with the views'' of the Bush Administration. One of the key reasons for India's support to NMD has been the prospect of significant reductions in world's nuclear arsenals.

In reaching out to the Russians on the NMD, Mr. Bush had proposed talks and cooperation with Moscow in building a new global security order. This has eased Russian fears about American unilateralism and created a very different context for the international debate on the NMD than we have seen until recently.

Mr. Ivanov, here on a three-day visit, handed over a letter from the Russian President, Mr. Vladimir Putin, underscoring the importance of the strategic partnership between the two countries. The principal objective of the visit was to prepare for Mr. Vajpayee's trip to Moscow later this year. Conveying his greetings to the Russian President, Mr. Vajpayee said he was ``looking forward eagerly'' to his Moscow visit.

The two sides also discussed the full range of bilateral issues and welcomed the ongoing cooperation in countering terrorism. They also reviewed the latest situation in Afghanistan, where New Delhi and Moscow have converging interests. Notes were exchanged on their recent positive interaction with the Iranian leadership.

Mr. Ivanov called on the Finance Minister, Mr. Yashwant Sinha, who heads the joint economic commission between the two countries. He also met the National Security Adviser, Mr. Brajesh Mishra. After calling on the President, Mr. K.R. Narayanan, tomorrow, Mr. Ivanov heads home.

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