October 2008 continued to be a busy month in the calendar of India-Russia cooperation. Two important high level visits to India by Russian dignitaries took place during the month of October 2008, namely those of the Russian Foreign Minister, and of the Secretary of the Russian National Security Council. Russian Foreign Minister (FM) Mr. Sergei Lavrov visited India on 20 October and held discussions with the External Affairs Minister of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee, on issues of mutual interest. During his stay in Delhi, FM Lavrov also called on Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.

Russian President offers condolences
On 31 October, the Russian President Mr. Dmitry Medvedev sent condolence messages to Rashtrapatiji and to PM following the terrorist attacks in Assam on 30 October. President Medvedev in his message said “nothing can justify such inhuman and monstrously cruel crimes. The terrorists guilty of these barbaric acts should receive the severest punishment. Please accept my sincere condolences over these events. I ask you to pass on my words of sympathy and support to the families of all who were killed or injured in this tragedy”.

Seminar on ‘Russia and India in the Multi-polar World’
During the month, Ambassador Mr. Prabhat P Shukla met the Head of the Russian Federal Anti-Monopoly Service Mr. Igor Artemiev, Programme Director, Moscow TV Centre, Mr. Boris Notkin, Head of ALROSA, Mr. Sergei A. Vybornov, Mr. Oleg V. Deripaska of ‘Basic Elements’, and President of AFK Sistema, Mr. V.P. Evtushenkov. Ambassador also participated in a Seminar on “Russia and India in the Multi-polar World” at the prestigious Russian Academy of Sciences.

Russians remember the Mahatma
Gandhi Jayanti was celebrated by Embassy of India, Moscow on 02 October by offering floral tributes at the statue of Mahatma Gandhi situated on Lomonovsky Prospect in Moscow. The function was attended by about 300 guests comprising members of Russian Society for Business and Cultural Cooperation with India, members of Russian academia, Russian school children, Children of the Embassy of India School, members of the Indian community in Moscow and Embassy officials and their families.

Placing of flowers at the statue of Mahatma Gandhi was done by Shri Satbir Singh, Charge d’Affaires. After his remarks, brief speeches were delivered by Academican Mr. Evgeny Petrovich Chelyshev, Co-President of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Ms. Svetlana N. Baldano, Teacher of Hindi Chair, School No. 19, Moscow, Ms. Rimma V. Vasilyeva, Teacher of Lyceum No. 2, City of Protvino, and by Ms. Raisa A. Anisimova, Principal of School No. 1279 of Moscow (Tagore School)

After the speeches, bhajans were sung by children of Embassy of India School. The visiting Russian school children and their teachers, numbering about 50, were each presented with a set of “Discover India” (in Russian) kit containing books, VCDs and stamps of India.   Floral tributes were also paid to the statue of Mahatma Gandhi situated in the Embassy premises and at the bust of Mahatma Gandhi in the premises of Library of Foreign Literature, Yauzskiy Boulevard, Moscow.On 3 October, the documentary film “Does Gandhi Matter” prepared by Public Diplomacy Division, MEA, was screened at the DP Dhar Hall in the Embassy by the Information Wing preceded briefly by a speech by Counsellor (Information) Dr. AVS Ramesh Chandra on the modern-day relevance of Gandhiji. The screening was well-attended.
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