The Hindu : New Delhi News : Senior Russian leader to visit India

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Wednesday, Dec 19, 2007
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Senior Russian leader to visit India

Sandeep Dikshit

Major business conference planned
Negotiators confident of sorting out Gorshkov issue

NEW DELHI: In an effort to improve bilateral relations in general and sharpen the focus on economic ties, Russia will send a senior government leader in the middle of next month, highly placed sources said.

A major business conference would be held as a follow-up to the high-ranking official’s discussions with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his senior Cabinet colleagues.

The sources said Russia could consider sending a delegation led by President Vladimir Putin, failing which some other senior political figure such as Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov could visit India. The visit is likely to take place a week before French President Nikolas Sarkozy arrives as Chief Guest at the Republic Day parade.

Indo-Russian relations are seen by analysts as in the middle of a tempestuous spell.

But the government’s key negotiators for deals in defence and strategic sectors maintain that the partnership will remain intense.

During Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Moscow last month, India was disinterested towards a Russian offer to finalise plans to supply four nuclear reactors (to be operationalised after India entered the nuclear commerce mainstream).

India was dismayed at the huge additional bill for refurbishing a second-hand aircraft carrier for the navy.

No official word came from the Russian side despite it having become clear that the modernisation project was encountering serious problems.

By the time Russians admitted to having overestimated the complexity of the project, India had already paid $400 millions for the repairs.

During Dr. Singh’s visit, Moscow presented another bill that more then doubles the cost of the deal.

A short while ago, the two sides were locked in intense negotiations on a price hike for supplying Sukhoi-30 MKI fighters to the Indian Air Force.

Negotiators believe they would be able to sort out the Gorshkov aircraft carrier issue just as they did with the Sukhoi and Talwar deals.

Though considerable progress was made in ensuring the smooth supply of spares for Russian\Soviet origin equipment, the hostility generated during talks for these three deals have stained ties which are dependent on defence and strategic spheres in the absence of robust merchandise trade.

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