[Nethra K Putti]

INDIA-RUSSIA RELATIONSHIP

- india ties with the russian federation are time-tested & based on continuity , trust & mutual understanding.
- there is national consensus in both the countries on the need to preserve & strengthen the fundamentals of india-russia relations & furthur consolidate the strategic partnership.
- declaration of strategic partnership between these 2 nations has signed between former president vladamir putin & former PM shri atal behari vajpayee in oct 2000.

Military cooperations :
- defence relaiton between india-russia have historical perspective.
- the cooperation today is not resticted to a buyer-seller relationships but include joint research & development, training & service to service contacts.
- unde rmilitary cooperation india & russia conducted joint naval exercise 'indra 2007' in the sea of japan.
- in 2007 india -russia signed an agreement for joint development & production of 5th generation fighter aircraft.
- the purchase of 'admiral gorshkov' aircraft carrier was finalized during the visit of the russian defence minister to india in jan 2004.
- they also have several major joint military programme including brahmos cruis misiile programme , ins vikramaditya aircraft carrier programme & sukoi su-30 mki programme.

trade & economic relations :
- bilateral trade turnover is below expectation.
- a number of steps have been taken to boost the trade relations from both the sides.
- joint business council has been revived.
- both countries have signed an agreement on conclusion of bilateral mrk access negotiations in the context of russia's accession to hte WTO.
- in 2006, joint study group was set up to examine ways to increase trade & to study feasibility of comprehensive economic cooperation agreement.

cooperation in the energy sector :
- energy sectore is an important area in indo-russian bilateral relations.
- ONGC-videsh ltd has acquired 20% stake in the sakhalin-india oil & gas project in russia & has invested about US$ 2.8 billion in the project, which is one of the investment by india abroad.
- kudankulam nuclear power project with 1 unit of combined capacity of 2000 MW is a good example of indo-russian nuclear cooperation.

Space cooperation :
- this is another key area of cooperation between these 2 nations.
- in 2004, 2 space - related bilateral agreement were signed.
- they were agreement on cooperation in the outer space for peaceful purpose & agreement on cooperation in the russian space satellite navigation system 'GLONASS'.
- an agreement on joint moon exploration was also signes in nov 2007.
a move on human spaceflight programme was signed on dec 5 2008 during visit of president medvedev to india.

cooperation in science & technology :
- the ongoing cooperation in the field of s & t under the integrated long term programme of cooperation is the largest cooperation programmw in this sphere for both india-russia.
- development of SARAS DUET AIRCRAFT, semiconductor products, super computers, poly-vaccine, laser , seismology, high-purity materials, software & IT & ayurveda have been identified as priority areas of cooperation.

north-south transport corridor :
agreement has been ratified by all the 3 original signatory states viz, india, iran & russia , came into force on may 16 2002.

cooperation in the sphere of culture :
- indo-russia relations in the field of culture are historical.
- the inter-governmental cultural exchange programme between 2 nations.
- to boost up the cultural ties "year of russia in india" was organised in 2008.
- days of russian culture were held in india in nov 2003, in delhi, kolkata, mumbai.
- days of indian culture in russia were organised from sept 252005-oct 25 2005 in russia.

cooperation between regions of the 2 countries :
- cooperation between regions of the 2 countries areas are :
* delhi & moscow
* mumbai & st.petersburg
* karnataka & samara region
* gujarat & astrakhan region
* andhra pradesh & tatarstan.

fight against terrorism :
- on international terrorism, both sides agree that there is no justification for terrorism, & this must be fought against without compromise & whenever it exists.
- russia has supported the indian draft at the UN on comprehensive convention on international terrorism.
- india-russia joint working group on combating international terrorism is the institutional arrangement for cooperaiton in tackling global terrorism

[satishtj]

India ties with the russian federation are time-tested & based on continuity , trust & mutual understanding.
One has to explain what is "time-tested" "continuity" "trust" and "mutual understanding" ..

Time - tested : Russia has always vetoed on Kashmir issue
Continuity :The defence ties , or help in imp technical co-operation from Kundakundalum to Cryogenic
Trust:They lease out Akula -II only to India [ not china!!]whose design inspired Arihant
Mutual Understanding:India Russia space prog , support to GLONASS
- there is national consensus in both the countries on the need to preserve & strengthen the fundamentals of India-russia relations & furthur consolidate the strategic partnership.

India's interest : Defence ties , Space , and Uranium
Russia's interest : It is trying to build SCO + BRIC opposite to NATO . India being a big country and important South Asian nation , very imp for Russia to counter US [ Already Russia is shivering with fever of Missile shield of US] SO even in this SCO ,Russia asked India to be a member of SCO from observer .. but India not instd .. since it 's US relations in critical path .
- declaration of strategic partnership between these 2 nations has signed between former president vladamir putin & former PM shri atal behari vajpayee in oct 2000.

Military cooperations :
- defence relaiton between India-russia have historical perspective.
No more "friendly prices" are offered by Russia .. eg Gorshov debacle . Mendedev himself said India Russia good except this Gorshov ..

- the cooperation today is not resticted to a buyer-seller relationships but include joint research & development, training & service to service contacts.

Yes .. Eg battle tank T-90 Arjun .. but the pblm is most of the parts are ethier missing or defective [ overheating of Arjun] or missing of missile launcher from T-90 .

- unde rmilitary cooperation India & russia conducted joint naval exercise 'indra 2007' in the sea of japan.

Russia interest has been China's growing influence in Indian Ocean . So it is providing Akula etc to India [ ANy comments??]

- in 2007 India -russia signed an agreement for joint development & production of 5th generation fighter aircraft.
Yeah .
- the purchase of 'admiral gorshkov' aircraft carrier was finalized during the visit of the russian defence minister to India in jan 2004.

This was a "blunder" as described by CAG .. India's deal brought bankrupt ship company of russia out of its bankruptcy !!

- they also have several major joint military programme including brahmos cruis misiile programme , ins vikramaditya aircraft carrier programme & sukoi su-30 mki programme.
Brahmos -- biggest co-op especially with China picture

Akula -II submarine on lease and Space co-ops

trade & economic relations :
- bilateral trade turnover is below expectation.
- a number of steps have been taken to boost the trade relations from both the sides.
- joint business council has been revived.
- both countries have signed an agreement on conclusion of bilateral mrk access negotiations in the context of russia's accession to hte WTO.
- in 2006, joint study group was set up to examine ways to increase trade & to study feasibility of comprehensive economic cooperation agreement.

[ Can u comment on last year's BRIC .. should a common currency like EU exist for BRIC?]

cooperation in the energy sector :
- energy sectore is an important area in indo-russian bilateral relations.
- ONGC-videsh ltd has acquired 20% stake in the sakhalin-India oil & gas project in russia & has invested about US$ 2.8 billion in the project, which is one of the investment by india abroad.
- kudankulam nuclear power project with 1 unit of combined capacity of 2000 MW is a good example of indo-russian nuclear cooperation.

[ Also supply of Uranium [ when Manmohan visited Russia]]

Space cooperation :
- this is another key area of cooperation between these 2 nations.
- in 2004, 2 space - related bilateral agreement were signed.
- they were agreement on cooperation in the outer space for peaceful purpose & agreement on cooperation in the russian space satellite navigation system 'GLONASS'.
- an agreement on joint moon exploration was also signes in nov 2007.
a move on human spaceflight programme was signed on dec 5 2008 during visit of president medvedev to India.

- [The Cryogenic engine !which is the fuel for GSLV -III for Geo stationary Russia's . imp since ISRO is planning INSAT 3D]


cooperation in science & technology :
- the ongoing cooperation in the field of s & t under the integrated long term programme of cooperation is the largest cooperation programmw in this sphere for both India-russia.
- development of SARAS DUET AIRCRAFT, semiconductor products, super computers, poly-vaccine, laser , seismology, high-purity materials, software & IT & ayurveda have been identified as priority areas of cooperation.

north-south transport corridor :
agreement has been ratified by all the 3 original signatory states viz, India, iran & russia , came into force on may 16 2002.

cooperation in the sphere of culture :
- indo-russia relations in the field of culture are historical.
- the inter-governmental cultural exchange programme between 2 nations.
- to boost up the cultural ties "year of russia in India" was organised in 2008.
- days of russian culture were held in india in nov 2003, in delhi, kolkata, mumbai.
- days of indian culture in russia were organised from sept 252005-oct 25 2005 in russia.

cooperation between regions of the 2 countries :
- cooperation between regions of the 2 countries areas are :
* delhi & moscow
* mumbai & st.petersburg
* karnataka & samara region
* gujarat & astrakhan region
* andhra pradesh & tatarstan.

fight against terrorism :

[ Imp is that Mededev visited India after 1 week after 26/11 ..This shows Russia's romantic stmt " I m with you always !!]
- on international terrorism, both sides agree that there is no justification for terrorism, & this must be fought against without compromise & whenever it exists.
- russia has supported the Indian draft at the UN on comprehensive convention on international terrorism.
- india-russia joint working group on combating international terrorism is the institutional arrangement for cooperaiton in tackling global terrorism

Some Questions
1. If Russia is so good to us then Why did we sign EUMA with US ? We could have taken all defence equoments from Russia right ?

2. Why Russia wants India in the SCO ?

3. What is Russia - China relation ? Both are communist sisters ..so a common ideology , but then What s the diff btw them?

4. In these 60 yrs .. on which policies of Russia , India has criticised Russia .?
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