Transcript of Press Interaction of External Affairs Minister, Shri Yashwant Sinha and the Foreign Minister of Russia, Mr. Igor Ivanov

June 16, 2003

Shri Yashwant Sinha: Ladies and Gentleman,

I welcome all of you. It is a great pleasure for me to have amongst us His Excellency Mr. Igor Ivanov. Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. As you know, Mr. Inanov is on an Official visit to India.

Indo-Russian relations are multifaceted. We have strategic partnership under which we hold very intensive dialogues on issues of mutual interest. There are regular exchanges between our leadership and officials. Our Prime Minister was in St. Petersburg a fortnight back, when he held an important bilateral meeting with President Putin.

Today, we reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations between India and Russia. We have agreed that our two countries have to take new initiatives in order to boost trade and economic ties. We have to expand trade in high value, hi-tech items, as well as in areas such as oil and gas, diamonds, etc. so that our trade and economic ties are commensurate with our excellent political relations. There is also a need for increasing mutual investments.

We also discussed regional and international issues of common concern. There exists similarity of views between us on major issues. We agree that the menace of international terrorism has to be fought by the international community collectively. Our own cooperation in this field will be institutionalized with the setting up of a joint Indo-Russian Working Group on Combating International Terrorism. We have decided that the first meeting of this Group should be held later this year.

We also discussed the situation in the region and agreed that it is imperative for Pakistan to seize the opportunity and stop cross-border terrorism and dismantle the infrastructure supporting terrorism so that progress can be achieved on the latest peace initiative of the Prime Minister of India. We agreed on the need to keep monitoring the situation in Afghanistan, so that Afghanistan does not go back to the days of religious extremism.

Foreign Minister Ivanov and I will both attend the meeting of the ASEAN Regional Forum in the next few days. We have shared interest in peace and stability in the region. On Iraq, we agreed to maintain regular contacts so that we can work together with the international community to help restore peace and stability in Iraq and promote the process of economic reconstruction.

I would now give the floor to Mr. Ivanov.

Mr. Igor Ivanov: Thank you very much, Ladies and Gentlemen. First, I would like to thank my dear friend and colleague the Minister of Foreign Affairs of India for his invitation to visit India. The Russian-Indian relations have been marked over the recent several months with high intensity which corresponds to the higher level of cooperation. Of special significance are the highest level meetings; the one which was hosted in St. Petersburg between President Putin of Russia and Prime Minister of India. On our agenda we have the preparation for the next India-Russia Summit which will take place in Moscow. Today I already had talks with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Defence of India and also a meeting with the Prime Minister and the President of India.

In the course of negotiations and conversations we have discussed topics of regional and international security and the counteraction of international terrorism and drug trafficking. At the same time it is in our mutual interest to strengthen the international legal basis for such cooperation. Our special attention was paid to the situation in Iraq and the Middle East and also Afghanistan and it is with satisfaction that we notice that the position of India and Russia is in many aspects identical towards this problem. While discussing the issue of Afghanistan we spoke about the unacceptability of the opposition of states or group of states in the territory of Afghanistan and the necessity of cooperation of the international community with the authorities in Afghanistan. Bearing in mind the complex situation in Afghanistan, Russia proposes an international meeting which has to be held in September to discuss the matter of Afghanistan and we will be pressing this issue in the United Nations.

We have definitely discussed the situation in South Asia as well. Russia welcomes the proposal of India to re-establish the diplomatic relations with Islamabad at the level of high commissioners and also the restarting of the air and bus transport between the two countries. These initiatives show the sincere intention of India to stabilise the situation and we welcome these efforts. Russia supports these efforts and of principal importance here is the continuation of a dialogue from both sides. That is why the efforts by Pakistan are important to cut and eradicate cross border terrorism. As a conclusion I would like to say that we respect very much and cherish these warm and respectful relations which have been established between us and the Indian leadership. I once again felt this special atmosphere in the course of this visit. I am convinced that the results of today's meeting will contribute to the strengthening of our relations both in bilateral and international levels.

Thank you.

Question: I would like to know the position of Russia and India with regard to the possible aggravation of the situation in Iran and would also like to find out whether this was discussed in the course of negotiations?

Mr. Igor Ivanov: We are expecting the IAEA report on this item which can result in the conclusion and decision with regard to this matter. At the same time the principled position of Russia is well known. We are against the proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction including the nuclear weapons in the case of Iran. We are developing cooperation with Iran in the nuclear field. But this is an exclusively peaceful means and peaceful matter of cooperation and everything in under the control of IAEA and safeguards. We hope that Iran will sign the additional IAEA protocol which will allow the supervision of the IAEA over all the nuclear projects in the territory of the country and thus will allow to wipe out any concerns with regard to that matter.

Shri Yashwant Sinha: We discussed the Iranian situation and what Mr. Ivanov has stated reflects the Indian position also to a very large extent. We are against clandestine nuclear proliferation. Iran is a signatory to the NPT. We are also waiting for the report of the IAEA and I hope it will be possible for Iran to convince the international community that it does not have any nuclear weapons programme.

Question: I wonder if the question of military and technological cooperation was discussed in the course of negotiations and what is the prospect for such cooperation?

Mr. Ignor Ivanov: In the course of talks with the Minister of Defense, we discussed matters of military and technological cooperation. With satisfaction we noted the successful implementation and the conduction of joint naval manoeuvres between Russia and India. We have underlined the importance of further developments of military cooperation between our countries. Military and technological cooperation also holds an important place in our bilateral relations and we are interested in the further development of this cooperation.

Question: Pakistan President General Musharraf has stated that he does not rule out another Kargil(inaudible) ... In your talks with Pakistani leadership was this discussed?

Mr. Igor Ivanov: The position of Russia with regard to counteracting international terrorism is perfectly clear and it has been numerously stated on different levels including the highest one. We have been always condemning and we continue to condemn terrorism in any form independent of from which side it arises. We are convinced that all countries are obliged to counteract terrorism and combat those structures which provide assistance to terrorist organisations and shall not allow the existence of such organisations in their territory. It is based on the corresponding United Nations Security Council Resolution which states that countries should not only combat terrorism but should also have to cut and eradicate activities of such organisations in their territories which provide assistance to international terrorists. Pakistan is well aware of the position of the Russian Federation because this position was stated in the course of President Musharraf's visit to Moscow and I reiterated it in the course of my visit to Pakistan. But at the same time our judgement with regard to the question of terrorism and other matters must be made not upon just statements but upon the actions and deeds. We know that the leadership of Pakistan has recently undertaken a number of actions to curb the activity of extremists and terrorists in the territory of Pakistan and we hope that this work will be continued.

Question: On India not sending troops to Iraq?

Mr. Ivanov: It is the sovereign right of India and we don't intrude into their internal affairs. I can only say that we are not planning to send our troops there.

Thank you.

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