The two old friends India and Russia inked the expanded civil nuclear deal and three defence pacts. The nuclear pact between the two countries goes far beyond the 123 agreement that India entered with the US early this year. Both the countries expressed grave concern over the increasing threat of terrorism and pledged to combat the terrorism together. They also cemented ties on a wide range of interest encompassing N-trade, shared Af-pak perceptions and a plan to boost commerce to $20 billion by 2015.
The agreement between the two countries concluded in Moscow on the official visit of the PM Manmohan Singh to Russia at the invitation of Russian President Medvedev for the Annual Summit from Dec 6 to 8, 2009.
The umbrella agreement for expanding civil nuclear cooperation will give New Delhi the right to reprocess spent fuel, taking the pact “far beyond the 123 agreement” inked with the US, official sources commented Sunday.
“Our views are similar on a global issues and our cooperation can extend to cooperation at international level. We will be sharing intelligence and information gathering,” Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who ends a three-day visit to Moscow on Tuesday, said.
Expressing concern over the "grave challenge of terrorism" the Russian President Dmitri Medvedev said, “There is a common threat that India and Russia face. We should consolidate our anti-terror base. We will provide concrete help in anti-terror activities.”
"The situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan underlines the importance of this... Terrorism is the biggest evil of current and last century," added Medvedev.
India and Russia pledged to work together for global non-proliferation, stressing that the proliferation of nuclear weapons and its possible link to terrorism poses a threat to international peace and security, undermines security of states, and complicates progress towards nuclear disagreement.
The two countries are convinced that the international community should enhance efforts to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
“Both Sides call upon the international community to comply with the provisions of international counter-terrorism conventions and protocols including the principle, 'either prosecute or extradite', regarding the persons accused of committing acts of terror. The Sides strongly call for an early adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism. The Sides intend to further develop Indian-Russian bilateral cooperation in combating new challenges and threats, including such cooperation within the framework of the India and Russia Working Group on Combating International Terrorism.”
On UN Conference on Climate Change in Copenhagen, India and Russia underscored the urgency of effective international action to combat climate change, and affirmed their readiness to continue to work constructively for the success of the conference in accordance with the principles and provisions of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Bali Action Plan.
Highlights of the MOSCOW PACTS:
a) 4 N-reactors to be set up by Russia in Kudankulam (Tamil Nadu); site for fifth identified in Bengal
b) plan to boost trade between both countries to $20 billion by 2015
c) 10-year deal on weapons, aircraft and maintenance contracts from 2011 to 2020
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