The Hindu : International / India & World : Manmohan to attend V-day celebrations in Moscow

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 06, 2005

International

International - India & World

Manmohan to attend V-day celebrations in Moscow

Vladimir Radyuhin

Likely to discuss product support for Russian weapons

MOSCOW: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Russia to attend the 60th anniversary of the Allied victory over Nazi Germany in World War II on May 9 will underline a special relationship between India and Russia.

The leaders of 53 countries, including the G-7, will gather here for the biggest ever V-Day celebrations, but India stands out amongthose invited as the only country not directly involved in the world's most destructive war.

Mr. Putin's personal invitation, conveyed to Dr. Singh during their summit meeting in Delhi in December, and the Prime Minister's acceptance should be seen in the context of the close strategic relationship between the countries, informed sources said here.

Mr. Singh's visit to Moscow on May 8-10, the first since becoming Prime Minister, will open an "India month" in Russia. Later in May, President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam is due to pay the first visit by an Indian head of state to Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union. This will be followed by a trip of External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh to Vladivostok to attend a tripartite meeting with the Foreign Ministers of Russia and China and a visit by Petroleum Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar in early June.

On May 9, Mr. Singh, along with the other world leaders, will attend a military parade in Red Square and despite an extremely packed programme in Moscow hold a meeting with Mr. Putin later in the day.

The leaders will review progress made since their December summit and discuss key issues of bilateral relations, including defence, nuclear and fossil energy, IT, the easing of the visa regime and the utilisation of the Indian rupee debt.

It is hoped the meeting will take care of Indian concerns regarding product support for Russian weapons by giving India broader direct access to original arms manufacturers. India will be looking for signs of positive shifts in Russia's position regarding international restrictions on supply of peaceful nuclear technology to India in the wake of the launch of an India-U.S. nuclear energy dialogue recently.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

International

News Update

Stories in this Section

Blair set to win third term despite voter anger over Iraq

Blasts at British consulate in New York

Back to the future

Vietnam, Australia accord on ties

"Jews can only rely on themselves"

Violence continues to rock Iraq

New Zealand introduces tax on greenhouse gases

Bush asks Italy to end row over officer's killing

"Napoleon died of stomach cancer"

After bus service flights on the agenda, says PoK Prime Minister

Manmohan to attend V-day celebrations in Moscow