rediff.com: Security, economic co-operation to top Jaswant's Moscow agenda

Indo-Russian economic co-operation and security issues will top External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh's agenda when he begins talks with Russian leaders in Moscow on Thursday. Singh's four-day visit began today.

He will kick off preparations for the visit to India of Russian President Vladimir Putin in October this year. The two countries are to sign a strategic partnership declaration and about half a dozen key bilateral agreements during Putin's visit, Indian Ambassador to Moscow S K Lambah said.

Besides holding talks with Russian leaders, including Putin, Singh is scheduled to visit imperial Russia's capital and Putin's home town, St Petersburg. His visit to Russia is the first by a senior Indian politician since Putin took office in May.

Singh is scheduled to hold wide-ranging talks with the secretary of the Russian Security Council, Sergei Ivanov, on regional and global security concerns and closer Indo-Russian co-operation in combating international terrorism and religious extremism, a common threat for multi-ethnic and pluralistic societies like India and Russia.

The future of the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missiles treaty and Russia's proposal of a joint missile shield to thwart potential missile threats from 'problem' states is also likely to be discussed.

Singh is scheduled to discuss Indo-Russian economic co-operation and trade issues with Vice-Premier Viktor Khristenk, co-chairman of the bilateral inter-governmental commission on trade, economic, scientific, technological and cultural co-operation.

"The present level of interaction between India and Russia in the economic and commercial sphere is neither commensurate with the potentialities nor does it correspond to the Indo-Russian political and diplomatic relationship," Lambah said.

"India could become the biggest foreign investor in Russia's oil industry in the foreseeable future," sources said. Negotiations are underway by the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Videsh Ltd for the acquisition of a 50 per cent stake in the Sakhalin offshore oil field from a government entity, Rosneft. A deal could be signed during Putin's visit.

While Indo-Russian relations are acquiring unprecedented dynamism, with Singh's visit to be followed by those of Defence Minister George Fernandes and Human Resources Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi, the two sides are trying to put contentious issues, like the Purulia arms drop convictions and harassment of Indians by Russian immigration authorities, on the backburner.


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Security, economic issues to top Jaswant's Moscow agenda