1. The Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Shri Murli Deora with the Russian Energy Minister, Mr. Sergy Shemato in a meeting at Moscow on November 04, 2008. The Secretary, Petroleum and Natural Gas, Shri R.S. Pandey and the CMD, ONGC, Shri R S Sharma are also seen. 2. The Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Shri Murli Deora meeting the Prime Minister of Russia, Mr. Vladimir Putin, at Moscow

November 2008 witnessed a string of high-level visits by Indian dignitaries and delegations to Russia, and included the Indian Petroleum & Natural Gas Minister, the Vice Chief of Naval Staff of India, a high-level Ministry of Defence (MoD) delegation, and the Chairman of the Central Board of Excise & Customs (CBEC) of India. During the month, New Delhi hosted two very important meetings on the economic side: the first meeting of the ‘Joint Task Force’ (JTF), and the 14th meeting of the Working Group on Energy of the Indo-Russian Inter-governmental Commission (IRIGC) on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation. Besides, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’s 119th Birth Anniversary Celebrations (Children’s Day) were organized by the Embassy on 14 November with traditional gaiety and enthusiasm with a large participation of Russian and Indian children in Moscow. This (November) edition of our ‘India Chronicle’ newsletter will focus on these events, in addition to other cultural events of importance organized locally by the JNCC. 

The Indian Petroleum & Natural Gas Minister, Mr. Murli Deora, visited Moscow during 4-5 November and was received by the Russian Energy Minister Mr. Sergey Shmatko. He also met the Russian Prime Minister Mr. Vladimir Putin. Cooperation in the oil and gas sector was discussed in these interactions. Vice Admiral Raman Prem Suthan, Vice Chief of Naval Staff (VCNS) of India visited Russia during 19-26 November for reviewing Indian Naval projects in Russia. VCNS held discussions with the Russian Federal Service on Military Technical Cooperation (FSMTC) and SC Rosoboronexport in Moscow. He visited the MiG Production Centre at Lukhovitsy where MiG 29K/KUB aircrafts are being manufactured for the Indian Navy. He also visited the Sevmash Shipyard, Severodvinsk where the aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov is being refurbished and refitted for the Indian Navy, the Northern Project Design Bureau, the Northern Shipyard, and the Yantar Shiyard in Kaliningrad where the Project 1135.6 follow-on ships are being constructed.

An Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) delegation led by Mr RK Mathur, Additional Secretary, visited Moscow during 5-7 November. The delegation met officers of the FSMTC for finalising the draft Inter- Governmental Agreement on After-Sales Support for Russian Arms and Military Equipment supplied to India. The Russian delegation was headed by Mr. K.N.Biruylin, Deputy Director, FSMTC. The negotiations culminated in a protocol signed on 7 November, and both sides will now look forward to an early signing of the Agreement.

November 2008 was also witness to two most regrettable incidents: the first in Russia -an accident on 8 November on board the Russian submarine ‘Nepra’, and the second in India – a series of ghastly terrorist attacks in Mumbai during 26-29 November. PM Manmohan Singh sent his deepest condolences in a message to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on the accident on board the Russian submarine.

Addressing media in Caracas on 27 November, President Medvedev expressed condolences to PM in connection with the Mumbai terrorist attacks. In his message, President Medvedev said “it is inadmissible to use terrorist methods in the settlement of any issue”. On 28 November, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin expressed condolences to the families of those who died as a result of acts of terrorism in Mumbai. PM Putin’s message conveyed that the “barbaric crimes committed in Mumbai came as a real shock for all of us and once again reminded us of the necessity of repulsing any terrorist attack resolutely and without compromise. It is important for the international community to build up coordinated efforts for combating extremism and terrorism”.