Sanctions-hit Russia got both business and support at the annual summit-level talks with India. A joint statement, issued after nearly three-hour long talks that also included half-an-hour restricted dialogue between the visiting
Russian president Vladimir Putin and prime minister Narendra Modi, stated that both countries oppose West-imposed economic sanctions that don't have the approval of the UN Security Council.
Experts believe it a significant statement to stand up against the West and support old friend Russia, in the wake of the visit of US president Barack Obama next month and Modi's visit to Germany to woo Western companies to agree to participate in his Make in India mission. The joint statement also drew parallels between the violent acts in Jammu and Kashmir in India and Chechnya in Russia, committing to work together for the adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism at the UN.
Both countries also decided to build at least 10 more nuclear reactors. "We have outlined an ambitious vision for nuclear energy of at least 10 more reactors," PM Modi said at a joint press briefing. President Putin in his brief media interaction said, the number could go up to 20.
Russia has supplied two reactors to a plant at Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu under a long-delayed agreement, and has been pushing to supply many more after deals were signed in 2010 and 2008.
The two countries also signed 20 agreements including a deal for Russia to manufacture in India one of its most advanced helicopters and a proposal to set up factories to make Russian spare parts for military equipment.
Modi said the Russian president has also positively responded the request to locate manufacturing facilities in India for spares and components for Russian defence equipment. Russia has traditionally supplied 70 per cent of India's military hardware.
Bilateral trade, at $10 billion, is now one-ninth of that between Russia and China. India has voiced its concern over Moscow's recent military cooperation pact with Pakistan, fearing the arms may be used against India. Brining stability in Afghanistan was also discussed.
In the joint statement, both countries also sought greater role in the Arctic Council and to facilitate scientific cooperation to study the environmental challenges. They also agreed to study possibilities of building a hydrocarbon pipeline between Russia and India and also to conclude the necessary multilateral arrangements to use the international north-south corridor. The route primarily involves moving freight from India to Iran by ship; from Iran to Armenia and Georgia by rail and road; and from Georgia to Russia and Europe. (ends)
Did Modi use teleprompters?
At a joint press interaction with the visiting Russian president Vladimir Putin at the opulent Hyderabad House, prime minister Narendra Modi spoke in English rather than in Hindi. Looking straight into the eyes of audience, it looked he was extempore and reading from his memory. But, it appeared for the first time, Modi was using transparent teleprompters put on both sides of his desk. Mostly, only the US presidents have been seen using such teleprompters to mix looking into the eyes of audiences and also to give politically correct statements.
Known as presidential teleprompters or autocue, they are like transparent screens, resembling automobile rear view mirrors. The screen connected to a computer, displays full speech/edited talking points, that cannot be captured either in a TV or a still camera. Almost all Modi's predecessors, including Dr Manmohan Singh, used to read prepared speeches on such occasions to ensure they remain diplomatically correct.
Since Modi didn't need to look down or to consult written notes, he appeared to have memorised the speech or to be speaking spontaneously, without losing eye contact with the audience. It is believed that Dwight Eisenhower was the first US president to make use of a teleprompter, in the 1952 presidential campaign. President Obama uses a modern teleprompter for his speeches. His monitors are usually a piece of glass with a special partially reflective coating.
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