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India, Russia to discuss bilateral ties

The entire gamut of Indo-Russian bilateral relations and key international issues, including Afghanistan and United States President George W Bush's plan to go ahead with a controversial missile defence system, are expected to top the agenda of talks Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov will have with Indian leaders, during his visit to New Delhi, beginning Thursday.

Besides holding talks with Indian counterpart Jaswant Singh, Ivanov will call on President K R Narayanan and Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee during his three-day visit.

He is also expected to meet national security advisor Brajesh Mishra.

Russian Foreign Ministry's Press and Information Department director Alexander Yakovenko said the main goal of Ivanov's visit was to set the stage for the Indo-Russian summit in Moscow later this autumn, when Vajpayee is scheduled to visit Russia.

Ivanov will also continue the "trustful" Indo-Russian dialogue in New Delhi on a range of bilateral issues, he said, adding that relations with India have always been a priority of the Russian foreign policy and have an independent and persistent significance.

"India is a great nation, our long-standing, we can even say, historical partner. That's why Russia's co-operation with India can never be seen as an alternative to relations with others," he said, denying the linkage between a chill in Moscow's relations with Washington and Ivanov's India visit.

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