Rusia supports India in present geo-politics
BY ASHOK B SHARMA
TIA
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NEW DELHI : Russia has once again proved to be a time-tested friend of India in changing geo-political scenario. It has supported India “as a deserving and strong candidate for a permanent seat in an expanded UN Security Council (UNSC)”
Russia expressed readiness to assist and promote a discussion and positive decision in the nuclear suppliers group (NSG) on India’s full membership in that body. Russia also took into positive consideration India’s interest in full membership in MTCR and the Wassenaar Arrangement. It agreed to make efforts along with other Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) members to accelerate the process of India’s entry into the organisation. Russia has supported India’s application to join the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC) and intends to work in this direction when the moratorium on the new membership is lifted.
Russia also assured that it would press for reforms of the UN and UNSC. “In this context both sides agree to further strengthen their cooperation on issues related to the reform of the UN and its Security Council. The reform of the UN Security Council should be carried out in a manner that reflects contemporary realities and makes this body more representative and effective in dealing with both present-day and emerging challenges,“ the joint statement issued after the 10th annual summit meeting of the India-Russia Strategic Partnership in Delhi on Tuesday said.
The two sides also decided to work closely in the UN Security Council during the 2011-12 period when India occupies a non-permanent seat in the Council.
The Russian President Dmitry A Medvedev is leading a strong official and business delegation and is on a visit to India to attend the 10th annual summit of the India-Russia Strategic Partnership inked way back in October 3, 2000 in New Delhi.
Medvedev called upon Pakistan to expeditiously bring all the perpetrators, authors and accomplices of the November 2008 Mumbai attacks to justice. Indian Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh expressed sympathy for the victims of the terrorist attacks in the Moscow metro stations in March 2010, and expressed support for Russia’s efforts to eliminate terrorism from its soil. Both highlighted the need for strict observance of the sanctions regime against persons and entities listed by the UNSCR 1267 Sanctions Committee.
Both the leaders noted with satisfaction that the third India-Russia Joint Military Exercises held in India on October 13-23, 2010 focused on counter terrorism operations and had concluded successfully. Both sides agreed to make efforts to continuously upgrade joint military exercises in all forms including in the field of counter terrorism.
Both sides noted the importance of the mechanism of defence ministers of ASEAN and ASEAN dialogue partners (ADMM-Plus) as a key component of a robust, effective, open and inclusive regional security architecture that would enable the ADMM to cooperate with the eight “Plus” countries to address our common security challenges.
A contract for joint design and development of the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft with involvement of the Indian public sector, HAL and Sukhoi Design Bureau and Rosoboronexport of Russia was signed.
Russia agreed to partner with India in combating terrorism and on extradition of terrorists, President Medvedev said : “Extradition process is quite complicated. International cooperation should be in place to track down terrorists. To extradite them we need bilateral commitments.”
A MoU on combating irregular migration was signed by the two governments.Russia agreed to work with India in strengthening security cooperationin Asia and in the Indian and Pacific Ocean regions. Both sides called for peace and stability in Afghanistan. Both sides agreed that Iran has the right to develop research, production and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes in conformity with its international obligations. They called upon Iran to comply with the provisions of the respective UNSC resolutions and extend full cooperation with the IAEA.
India and Russia agreed to promote nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.
Both India and Russia agreed to intensify cooperation in a broad range of joint flagship projects in the space sector, including the lunar exploration, human space flight and Youth Sat projects. They also appreciated the progress being made in India’s utilisation of Russia’s Global Navigation Satellite System, GLONASS.
Important deals were signed in the energy sector between the two countries. Both India and Russia reviewed the progress made for the commissioning of units 1 and 2 of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project and the discussions for setting up additional units at Kudankulam including units 3 and 4. They also agreed on the need for collaboration in scientific research in nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. Russia welcomed India’s decision to set up a Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership and agreed to discuss future cooperation with this Centre.
An agreement was signed by both the governments for providing an administrative framework for joint undertaking of projects in the oil and gas sector in India, Russia and third countries by the companies from both the countries. A MoU was signed by the atomic energy agencies of both the countries for joint research and development in reactor technology and related fields for peaceful use of atomic energy in research institutes. A framework agreement for cooperation for undertaking joint projects in hydrocarbon sector was signed by ONGC Videsh Ltd of India and JSFC Sistema of Russia.
Integrated long-term programme for cooperation in science and technology and innovation was signed by the two governments. Also a joint work document for setting up of Indian-Russian Scientific and Technological Centre was signed. An agreement was signed for exchange of information and expertise and capacity building in disaster forecasting and management.
Both sides agreed to achieve bilateral trade volume to the level of $20 billion by 2015. They agreed to encourage investment in both the countries and to consider the possibility of a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CEPA) taking into account the implementation of the agreements on constituting the Customs Union between Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus, after due consultation with all parties involved.
An agreement was signed by two governments for mutual simplification of travel documents for certain categories of nationals. MoUs were signed for cooperation in IT, IT-enabled services, pharmaceutical sector, strengthening regulatory framework for monitoring bilateral trade, banking linkages, facilitating the use of line of credit for enhancing exports from India to Russia, particularly by SMEs. A MoU was signed by NMDC Ltd of India and OJSC Severstal of Russia for setting up of a 50:50 joint venture for an integrated steel plant in Karnataka. Three agreements were signed by Indian and Russian companies in pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical sectors. Similar six agreements were signed between institutes and companies in communications and IT sectors and two agreements were signed in chemicals and petrochemical sectors