Manmohan Singh and President Putin promised to work closely on civil nuclear co-operation, space technology, defence and energy security.
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Vladimir Putin on Thursday reaffirmed the importance of their strategic relations and promised to work closely on civil nuclear co-operation, space technology, defence production and energy security. “Though there has been a sea-change in the international situation during the last decade, Russia remains indispensable to the core of India’s foreign policy interests. Building on the long tradition of warm and friendly relations with Russia, we seek a comprehensive re-engagement that would impart new momentum and carry our strategic partnership to new heights,” Prime Minister Singh said, in his opening remarks to newspersons after the meeting with the visiting President.
In short, India realises the importance of a newly-resurgent and cash rich Russia and is keen to build on the foundations of past friendship. In a joint statement released after talks between the two leaders, they noted with satisfaction their ongoing cooperation in building nuclear power plants at Kundankulam.
The statement on nuclear co-operation reiterated what was already known. Russia will build four addition power units in the Kundankulam power station and is also in the race for setting up new nuclear power stations in India. In short, Russia, which has a history of nuclear co-operation with India, having bailed out New Delhi with fuel for Tarapur when other countries refused, will be a major contender for the big slice of the multi-billion dollar market, expected to open once the NSG lifts nuclear export restrictions now in force.
However, New Delhi and Moscow will co-operate in civil nuclear technology, keeping in mind their respective non-proliferation obligations. “India undertakes that the rector facilities and nuclear fuel supplied by Russia shall remain under the IAEA safeguards during the entire period of their actual use in accordance with the agreement on safeguards, which shall be concluded between India and the IAEA. It will also inter alia take into account measurers relating to physical protection and other issues as may be mutually agreed,” Manmohan Singh and Putin said in the joint statement on co-operation in the use of atomic energy.
This was a clear message to the Nuclear Supplier Group and to all those doubting India and Russia's commitment to non-proliferation. For New Delhi, which has to get the bilateral 123 agreement past the US Congress, it is important to ensure that it is a responsible nuclear state.
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