Prime Minister To Sign 7 Pacts During Russia Visit
A landmark seven agreements will be signed by Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda during his foreign visit to Russia, which begins today.
In addition, a supplement to the 1988 agreement on the sale of two light water civilian nuclear reactors from Russia to India, at a cumulative cost of Rs 15,000 crore, is also likely to be initialled.
Gowda's trip to Moscow, five years after the break-up of the Soviet Union, is taking place during a phase of acute Russian disillusionment with the West. Although important members of the Russian establishment are relentlessly continuing with the International Monetary Fund-mandated reform programme, other sections are keen to re-establish old friendships they once maintained with countries like India.
According to Russia's ambassador in New Delhi, Albert Chernyshev, Moscow is keen on rebuilding a strategic partnership with India.
Chernyshev cited the sale of sophisticated fighter aircraft as well as two nuclear reactors