India, Russia agree to strengthen ties

Moscow: Cementing their strategic ties, Russia on Monday expressed its readiness to further expand cooperation with India in civilian nuclear energy, defence and space. The two sides also decided to set up a study group to examine the feasibility of a comprehensive economic cooperation agreement.

At a meeting lasting more than the scheduled 30 minutes with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed Moscow's willingness to look into issues of civilian nuclear energy cooperation with India, including the supply of nuclear fuel for Tarapore plant and new nuclear power reactors.

During the talks, held in a very warm and cordial atmosphere, "Putin agreed to look into these issues after the festivities of the 60th anniversary of Nazi defeat were over," National Security Advisor M.K. Narayan told reporters here after the meeting.

Russia is helping India in the construction of Kudankulam nuclear power plant in Tamil Nadu under a deal signed in 1985 by then Prime minister Rajiv Gandhi and erstwhile Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev. However, after the break up of the USSR, Russia joined the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) which bans it from selling civilian nuclear technology to non-signatories of the NPT, including India.

Singh apprised Putin of India's non-proliferation efforts and plans for the adoption of non-proliferation bill by the Indian Parliament soon. Singh expressed happiness and appreciated the support given by Russia for the Kudankulam nuclear power plant.

Narayanan said cooperation in space-related activities also figured in the discussions and the fact that the agreement on Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONAS) has been signed showed that "we are working further to enhance cooperation in this sector."

"As our economic relations do not mirror our strategic partnership, the Prime Minister has proposed to set up a joint working group to study the feasibility of an Indo-Russian economic cooperation agreement," Narayanan said, adding it was immediately accepted by Putin. The two leaders felt that the economic cooperation between the two countries was not in keeping with their strategic relationship, he said.

In the "win-win" discussions, Putin assured Singh that Russia has "always stood by India and will always stand by India," Narayanan said. Putin on more than one occasion has emphaised that all issues between India and Russia would be addressed in the spirit of the special relations that existed between the two countries, he said.