Following is the
text of the English rendering of the Suo Moto Statement in Parliament
by Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee on the State visit
to India of President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation
:
"The President
of the Russian Federation made a State visit to India from December
3 to 5. The visit continued the recent tradition of annual summit
meetings, which we have established since October 2000. President
Putin called on our President, who also hosted a banquet in his
honour. The Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of
External Affairs and the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha
called on President Putin.
President Putin and
I had detailed discussions on bilateral relations and exchanged
views on regional and international issues of mutual interest.
These discussions reaffirmed the deep community of interests between
India and Russia on a whole range of issues of mutual concern.
The wide canvas of
our mutual interests is illustrated by the important documents
concluded during the visit. These include the Delhi Declaration
on further consolidation of strategic partnership, a Joint Declaration
on strengthening economic, scientific and technological cooperation
and a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in combating
terrorism. These documents and the Joint Statement on the visit
are placed on the Table of the House. Documents were also signed
on cooperation in telecommunications and on intellectual property
rights in science and technology. A protocol on cooperation was
concluded between Karnataka State and the Samara region of the
Russian Federation.
We believe that these
documents will further strengthen the politico-legal basis of
the multi-faceted cooperation between India and Russian Federation.
President Putin and
I agreed that our two countries have to take new initiatives to
boost our trade and economic ties. We have to expand trade in
high value, hi-tech items, as well as in areas such as oil and
gas, diamonds etc. Diversification of our trade basket assumes
greater urgency since the quantum of debt repayment under our
bilateral Rupee-Rouble agreement will fall steeply from the year
2005. At present, this repayment funds almost all of India’s exports
to Russia. We also agreed on the need to increase mutual investments.
Cooperation in energy
has a long-term strategic significance for both our countries.
Both sides will hold regular bilateral discussions, through appropriate
mechanisms, on global energy production and supplies, which impact
on our energy security. Our collaboration in the Sakhalin-I project
has made good progress. We have agreed to extend our cooperation
to projects in other areas – including the Caspian Sea – and to
other aspects of the energy sector.
We noted with satisfaction
the progress in the implementation of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power
Project and recognized that further cooperation in this sector
would be in the interest of both countries. President Putin confirmed
Russia’s interest in continued cooperation with India on civilian
applications of nuclear energy. In the joint press interaction
after our talks, he expressed the view that the international
regime on these matters needs reform. We fully agree with this.
Honourable Members
are aware of the wide-ranging defence cooperation between India
and Russia. Our cooperation now transcends a buyer-seller relationship
and includes joint research, development and production. The state-of-the-art
Brahmos missile is a product of our joint research and development
efforts. India and Russia are now embarking on the co-production
of this missile system for its induction into the armed forces
of both countries. President Putin and I agreed that a number
of other projects hold promise for our future cooperation.
The Delhi Declaration
reaffirms that neither country will take any action, which may
threaten or impair the security of the other. We have declared
that both countries would be guided by these principles in their
security and defence policies and military-technical cooperation
with third countries. These important mutual commitments underpin
the vibrant India-Russia defence relationship.
In our review of
the international situation, we were of the common view that strong
and sustained counter-measures need to be taken against international
terrorism. The UN Security Council Resolutions against terrorism
– and particularly Resolution 1373 – should be strictly implemented.
As victims of terrorism having its roots in our common neighbourhood,
India and Russia have a strong security interest in meeting this
threat through preventive and deterrent measures, nationally and
bilaterally. The agreement to set up a Joint Working Group on
Combating Terrorism will further strengthen our cooperation in
this sphere.
India and Russia
shared concern at the continuing threat to Afghanistan’s security
from the regrouping of former Al Qaeda and Taliban elements, which
continue to have links with their sponsors. We expressed full
support to the Government of President Karzai and to its initiatives
for national reconciliation, economic reconstruction and rebuilding
of Afghan institutions. India and Russia will cooperate in promoting
the reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan, which should be driven
by Afghan priorities. India will also continue its bilateral engagement
with the Afghan leadership and further strengthen its traditional
links with the Afghan people.
On the situation
in South Asia, the convergence of our views is expressed in our
Joint Statement. Russia agrees with our position that we can resume
our dialogue with Pakistan only when it stops cross-border infiltration
and dismantles the terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-controlled
territory.
To sum up, President
Putin’s visit served the important purpose of sustaining our summit-level
dialogue on the entire range of issues of interest to India and
Russia. It underlined our mutual commitment to constantly strengthen
our strategic partnership, to intensify our political consultations
and to give a new dimension to our economic relations. It confirmed
our meeting of minds on major international issues.
We will continue
to attach the highest importance to our relations with Russia.
In keeping with our commitment to annual Summits, I have accepted
President Putin’s invitation to visit Russia next year.
Thank you".
