Winter N-gagement for India, Russia

In -5C temperature, relations between India and Russia thaw; nuclear deal, counter-terror agreement among deals inked

India and Russia yesterday inked six agreements aimed at invigorating their relationship that had endured a lukewarm phase in recent years.

After high-level discussions between Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, the path-breaking civil nuclear agreement, which will guarantee uninterrupted uranium fuel supplies for our atomic reactors and transfer of technology, was signed along with three military pacts.

They also agreed on a cultural exchange programme over the next two years and a credit line for facilitating bilateral trade.
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Emphasising on the nuke agreement, Singh said he was very satisfied with the development of nuclear power co-operation.
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He said, "The Koodankulam nuclear power plant in Tamil Nadu (which was part of an inter-governmental agreement signed in 1988 between the two nations) is already a symbol of expanding India-Russia co-operation in civil nuclear energy. Now, four more units will come up there."

Responding to questions from the media, the PM also said that India and Russia had identified an additional site at Haripur in West Bengal and signed an agreement, which was not restricted to the supply of nuclear reactors.
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Itu00a0 also includes cooperation in areas of research and development of nuclear energy.

Other pacts

India and Russia also signed an agreement on military and technical cooperation for the period 2011-2020, an agreement on after sale support for arms and military equipment supplied by Russia to India, protocol to the agreement on cooperation in development and production of military transport aircraft of 12 November 2007, an agreement on dollar credit-line between the Exim Bank of India and the Russian Bank of Development and Foreign Economic Affairs, a programme for cultural exchange for the period 2010-2012 and an agreement on cooperation in the use of atomic energy for developmental purposes.

Fighting terror

With regards to counter-terrorism, Singh said, "President Medvedev has mentioned the comprehensive convention on counter terrorism.

Also, we can share intelligence in information gathering andu00a0 pressure other countries, which give shelter or encourage terrorist activities."

It goes without saying that the PM tried to put pressure on Pakistan and sought Russian support in
this regard.

After the press conference, when Moscow witnessed snowfall and -5C temperature, the two sides signed a statement on deepening the strategic partnership in order to counter global challenges.

India and Russia have decided to set a trade target of $20 billion by 2015 and have identified the fields of energy, IT, communications and pharmaceuticals as the new thrust areas for cooperation.