India, Russia join hands against terrorism

India, Russia join hands against terrorism
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

New Delhi, April 28: India today announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit the country in October this year and signed with Moscow a protocol to enhance cooperation in defence and to fight international terrorism and religious extremism.

Putin will be visiting India in the first ten days of October this year when he and Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee will sign a joint declaration on strategic partnership, National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra told reporters here.

"We are looking forward to the visit. The agreement on strategic partnership between Russia and India will give concrete substance to the relationship and make it truly a relationship of partners and allies," visiting Russian Security Council Secretary Sergie Ivanov remarked after signing the protocol on cooperation between Security Councils with Mishra.

Ivanov, who is Mishra's counterpart, called on Vajpayee and handed over a letter from Putin which refers to the importance of Indo-Russian relations for stability and security in Asia and the whole world.

The letter calls for cooperation in combating international terrorism, drug trafficking and religious and political extremism.

Vajpayee told Ivanov "Putin will be an honoured guest and would be accorded a warm welcome". Putin, who is at present President-elect, will formally take over on May 7.

Besides the joint declaration on strategic partnership, Putin and Vajpayee would also sign a number of important documents during their summit.

Ivanov, who is here on a two-day official visit, met External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh and Defence Minister George Fernandes and held talks with Mishra on bilateral, regional and international issues.

He is accompanied by a top level 20-member delegation that includes Deputy Prime Minister Illya Klebanov who oversees the defence industry and arms trade and Trade Minister Mikhail Fradkov. Sources said the Russian delegation may put final touches on two major defence deals for acquisition by India of 310 T-90 battle tanks and two early warning AWACs.

An External Affairs Minister spokesman said the protocol signed by Mishra and Ivanov seeks to strengthen national security of the two countries through politico-legal means and enhance cooperation in international, economic, defence, information, ecological and other fields of security.

The protocal lays down the parameters for mutual cooperation in areas relating to suppression of crime, international terrorism, religious and political extremism, illegal trafficking in arms and drug trafficking.

For achieving these objectives, the National Security Councils of the two countries would form one or more Joint Coordination Groups, the spokesman said adding the two National Security Advisers will remain in "regular and frequent" contact.