India – Russia Ties : Highlights of The Month
September 2008 |
September witnessed a string of high-level interactions on the India-Russia bilateral relations front, including the visit to India by the Russian Defence Minister. The month proved to be busy on the publicity and cultural fronts as well.
Minister Mukerjee speaks to Russian Foreign Minister
External Affairs Minister (EAM) Shri Pranab Mukherjee had a telephone conversation with His Excellency Mr. Sergei Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister, on September 8, 2008, in which he expressed gratitude for the support extended by Russia at the NSG meeting in Vienna. EAM subsequently met Mr. Lavrov on the sidelines of the 63rd UNGA in New York on September 29. Apart from topical issues in India-Russia bilateral co-operation, the dignitaries also discussed the agenda items for the UNGA. Minister of State for External Affairs Shri Anand Sharma participated in the meeting of BRIC Foreign Ministers on the sidelines of the 63rd UNGA session.
Ambassador Shukla meets Minister Khristenko
During the month, Ambassador Shri Prabhat P Shukla met the Russian Minister of Industry and Trade, Mr. Viktor Khristenko. The main topic addressed by the two dignitaries was the promotion of trade and investment-related activities between the two countries. The Rossiskaya Gazeta brought out its Russia-India report in collaboration with the ‘Economic Times’ in India. The report carries an interview with Shri Prabhat P Shukla, the Ambassador of India to Russia, and can be accessed at the organisation’s website at www.rbth.ru.
Russian Defence Minister Anatoly visits India
Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov at the Amar Jawan Jyoti
at India Gate. |
Russian Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov visited India for the Eighth Session of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military Technical Co-operation (IRIGC-MTC) on 29 September, 2008. Prior to the commencement of the main session, the Russian Defense Minister participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate. This was followed by a Guard of Honour at the South Block.
In his speech at the main session of the meeting, Raksha Mantri (RM) mentioned that the India-Russia Defense Cooperation Agreement will be extended beyond 2010 for another 10 years. He also said that the Agreement on the Status of Forces was almost finalized, and India looked forward to increased numbers, size and scope of joint military exercises with Russia. He added that the problem areas such as product support, the aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov, the FGFA, MTA and T-90 tanks were addressed at the discussions. Mr. Serdyukov, in his speech, also spoke about the extension of the Defense Cooperation Agreement beyond 2010. He referred inter alia to the negotiations for the finalization of an Agreement on Product Support. The speeches were followed by the formal signing of a Protocol, and a question/answer session with journalists. The Russian Defence Minister also visited the office of Messrs Brahmos Aerospace.
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IRIGC-MTC Meet
September 2008, New Delhi |
Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov and Indian Defence Minister Shri AK Antony at the Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate. |
'Indo-Russian Defence ties bound to grow manifold' -Antony
The Defence Minister Shri AK Antony has described the outcome of the 8th Meeting of IRIGC-MTC in New Delhi as 'a landmark event in the close and strategic bilateral relations between India and Russia'. Speaking at a banquet hosted by him in honour of the visiting Russian Defence Minister Mr Anatoly Serdyukov, Shri Antony said the Meeting, as in previous years, discussed issues relating to regional and global peace and security.
" This is an important event not only between the Defence Ministries of the two countries but also a landmark event in our close and strategic bilateral relations and an important step in maintaing regional and global peace and security", he said. Shri Antony expressed confidence that the defence relations between India and Russia are bound to grow manifold and called for evolving a holistic defence partnership.
"Given the warmth of the cordiality and complete understanding between the leadership of both our countries, I have no doubt that our defence relations are bound to grow manifold. We need to work towards developing a mutually beneficial defence relationship which is holistic in content and scope." Speaking on the occasion, Mr Serdyukov echoed the sentiments expressed by Shri Antony. He expressed satisfaction at the grounds covered at the Meeting of the IRIGC-MTC though his visit to New Delhi was a short one.
Indo-Russian strategic cooperation arrangement extended by ten more years
Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov visits to Brahmos Complex |
India and Russia took a significant step in cementing their strategic ties as they agreed to extend the tenure of the Indo-Russian Inter-Governmental Commission on Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-MTC) by another ten years on the expiry of its present term in 2010. After signing the protocol on IRIGC-MTC with his Russian counterpart, the Defence Minister Shri AK Antony, at a joint press conference, said that an apex committee will be formed to iron out problems on a fast-track basis on different issues related to ongoing and proposed projects for acquisition, joint development and production, joint defence R&D and interaction between the defence forces of both countries including joint exercises. He further said that the apex committee, jointly headed by Defence Secretaries of both countries, would meet atleast once in six months and its first meeting will be held in Moscow before the visit of the Russian President in December 2008.
Describing Russia as a 'trusted partner' Shri Antony said Indo-Russian relations have stood the test of time. Replying to a question on the existing bilateral defence cooperation, he said that it has been decided to procure 347 T-90 tanks from Russia. Another 1,000 tanks would be manufactured in India under transfer of technology. On the delay in acquisition of Gorshkov aircraft carrier, Shri Antony said the Indian side has considered the Russian demand for an escalation in price. “The same has been considered and would be placed before the cabinet for consideration,” he added. .
The Russian Defence Minister Mr. Anatoly Serdyukov said the defence ties between the two countries are transforming from a vendor-seller relationship to joint development and production partnership. .
Earlier, in his opening remarks to the IRIGC-MTC, Shri Antony stressed on the need to promote joint exercises, training and frequent exchange of delegations. “The early conclusion of the Status of Forces Agreement would provide the framework to hold mutually beneficial joint exercises regularly,” he added. Shri Antony pointed out that defence cooperation remains the cornerstone of Indo-Russian bilateral relations. “A major part of our defence inventory is of Russian origin, and continues to remain so even now,” he said.
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Hindi Week Celebrated
On the Cultural front, the Hindi Week was celebrated by the Embassy to commemorate the ‘Hindi Day’ on 14 September. Competitions, poetry recital and a discussion on “Hindi in the era of Globalization” were conducted by Prof. R.S. Sarraju Hindi Professor in the JNCC, with participation from the Faculty of Journalism at the Moscow State University (MSU), the Russian State University for Humanities (RSUH), and the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) under the Russian Foreign Ministry.
On 19 September, the Hindi Day was celebrated in the Embassy. H.E. Mr. Prabhat P. Shukla, Ambassador of India, delivered the Inaugural remarks and gave away prizes to ten selected Russian students from different institutes of Moscow who recited Hindi poetry. Eminent Hindi teachers of Russia Dr. Indira Gazeiva of RSUH and Mrs. Svetlana Mikoyan of Faculty of Journalism of MSU were felicitated for their efforts at the propagation of Hindi in Russia.. Russian students and guests participated in large numbers at the function which was followed by a reception |
New School Session starts with “Celebrating India”
Moscow Gymnasium No. 1 celebrated the opening of its new school session on 1 September by celebrating India and learning about the country. During the day, JNCC teachers and performers performed at the school and introduced students to Indian classical dance and music by demonstrating Kathak and Tabla. The classes and presentations were attended by over 350 school students, together with their parents and teachers.
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Tabla and Pakhawaj concert held
A Tabla and Pakhawaj concert by Shri Radhe Sham Sharma, Tabla Teacher at the JNCC, was held on 12 September at the Aleksei Petrovich Bogolyubov Arts Library, Moscow, which organizes the Annual Bogolyubov Literary and Musical Evenings under the patronage of the Department of Culture of Moscow City. JNCC arranged a talk on 2 September by Ms. Svetlana Samudovna who addressed a group of Russian students on her experience as an ICCR scholar in India. Ms. Samudovna did her MBA at the University of Hyderabad during 2006-08 under an ICCR scholarship and later joined PriceWaterhouseCoopers.
The Defence Attaches’ Spouses Association of Moscow held its September meeting on 16 September in the Embassy. A Kathak performance was presented by a group of 7 JNCC students. The programme was attended by over 80 ladies from the diplomatic Community in Moscow. Russia’s ‘Sovexportfilm’ will be participating at the Goa International Film festival in November 2008 with nine films, and Karen Shakhnazarov’s film ‘Ischeznuvshaya Imperia’ (The Vanished Empire) will figure in the Competition Section.
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Statement by the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh
We welcome the decision earlier today of the Nuclear Suppliers Group to adjust its guidelines to enable full civil nuclear cooperation with India. This is a forward-looking and momentous decision. It marks the end of India’s decades long isolation from the nuclear mainstream and of the technology denial regime. It is a recognition of India’s impeccable non-proliferation credentials and its status as a state with advanced nuclear technology. It will give an impetus to India’s pursuit of environmentally sustainable economic growth.
I thank the United States and other member countries of the Nuclear Suppliers Group for the role they have played in ensuring this outcome. The opening of full civil nuclear cooperation between India and the international community will be good for India and for the world. We look forward to establishing a mutually beneficial partnership with friendly countries in an area which is important for both global energy security as well as to meet the challenge of climate change. |
PM Manmohan Singh visits US and France
India's prime minister was on a 10-day visit to the United States and France. During his visit, Dr Manmohan Singh also attend the UN General Assembly in New York and an India-EU gathering in Marseilles.
In New York, Dr Singh met world leaders including Pakistan's newly elected President Asif Ali Zardari and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. On September 25, he was in Washington to sign a bilateral accord allowing India to buy nuclear power plants, technology and fuel. The deal is expected to be a milestone in warming ties between the United States and India, a former Soviet ally. New Delhi, which is critically short of energy to fuel its booming economy, is looking at investments worth billions of dollars in its power sector. Signed by US President George W Bush and Dr Singh in July 2005, has gotten the final approval from US Congress.
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