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India, Russia renew Cold War-era vows

Josy Joseph in New Delhi

The Declaration of Strategic Partnership signed by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Russian President Vladimir Putin Tuesday has elaborate references to reduction of nuclear weapons, use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes and cooperation in fight against international terrorism.

Raminder Singh Jassal, joint secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, said: "The strategic partnership declaration will put the framework around the special relationship that India and Russia will share."

The five-page document, signed by the two leaders at the Hyderabad House, is being seen as a significant step forward in the relations between the two countries. As expected, trade and commerce has been given stress, but it is significant in mentioning several diplomatic initiatives that would take the partnership to a new phase of cooperation in the post-Cold War era.

Both the countries have committed themselves to "further intensifying their efforts aimed at strengthening international peace and security, general and complete disarmament and systemic and progressive efforts to reduce nuclear weapons globally."

The ultimate aim would be to eliminate "these weapons globally, nuclear non-proliferation and the peaceful settlement of disputes."

Both the countries also committed to "closer cooperation at the United Nations, including its specialised agencies and institutions, at other international and regional fora."

The two countries proclaimed "the establishment of relations of strategic partnership between them," based on "mutual understanding and long-term confidence in each other."

The strategic relations "envisages the elevation of their multifaceted ties to an even higher and qualitatively new level, while imparting them with a specially close and dynamic character, both in the bilateral field and in the international arena."

The political resolution also affirms the countries' intention to convene annual summit level meetings, regular bilateral political and foreign office consultations on issues of mutual concern.

Significantly, both the countries also affirm their decision to have "closer cooperation at the United Nations, including its specialised agencies and institutions, at other international and regional fora."

The agreement also reiterates their Cold War commitments and alignment. Both sides have reiterated that they will not participate in "any military-political or other alliances or associations or armed conflict directed against the other side. The two sides will not participate in "any treaties, agreements or understandings infringing upon the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity or national security interests of the other side."

On the defence front, Russia and India will work towards "consolidating defence and military-technical cooperation in a long-term perspective" and to deepen "service-to-service cooperation."

Also, without specifying areas, both the sides also agree to cooperate "in the peaceful use of nuclear energy and the peaceful use of outer space." Russia is expected to provide India with nuclear reactors for a new nuclear power plant in Tamil Nadu, and assist in upgrading the safety systems in Indian nuclear plants.

In a show of their heightened concerns about terrorism, both sides agreed to cooperate in fighting "international terrorism, separatism, organised crime and illegal trafficking in narcotics."

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