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The deal between the two Cold War friends underscores
the significance of their strategic ties, which
were further cemented with three military pacts
and two more agreements on enhancing trade and
cultural exchange between the two nations.
“It is a broad based nuclear deal. It provides
for upfront consent for reprocessing of spent
nuclear fuel and also includes that the termination
will be without any prejudice to ongoing contracts
and fuel obligation,” an official told IANS.
Though the broad contours of the expanded deal
on peaceful usage of nuclear energy were not known,
informed sources said it would be worth “multi-billion
dollars”.
“We have signed an agreement which broadens the
reach of our cooperation beyond the supply of
nuclear reactors to areas of research and development
and in a whole range of areas of nuclear energy,”
Manmohan Singh told reporters in the imposing
Malachite Hall of the Kremlin, a historic fortified
complex in the heart of Moscow that houses the
Russian government.
The deal will involve construction of four more
nuclear reactors in Koodankulam, in the south
Indian state of Tamil Nadu, where Russia is already
building an atomic power station, he said.
“In a symbol of expanding India- Russia cooperation
in nuclear energy four more new units will come
up there, in addition, we have identified an additional
site in West Bengal,” the prime minister said.
“The conclusion of negotiations on the peaceful
uses of atomic energy is a major step forward
in strengthening our existing cooperation in this
field,” Dr Manmohan Singh observed.
Medvedev expressed similar views in the joint
press conference addressed by the two leaders.
“We don’t want to increase the nuclear member
club but are interested in civilian atomic cooperation,”
he said as an interpreter translated his address
in Russian.
“We have a good experience of cooperation in
Koodankulam and are thinking about joint work
on another site.”
The deal, Medvedev said, paves the way for continuation
of cooperation in the nuclear field “for years
to come”.
The deal is said to be significant as it will
give New Delhi the right to reprocess spent fuel,
taking the pact “far beyond the 123 agreement”
inked with the US, according to the Indian official.
The pact has a “forward looking language” on
nuclear reprocessing rights for India and the
nuclear fuel supply won’t be stopped if bilateral
cooperation breaks up in future,” the official
said.
Dr Manmohan Singh also said that the partnership
between the two countries was independent and
“not influenced by our relations with any other
country”.
“India accords the highest priority to its relations
with Russia. This is a relationship that stands
on its own footing.”
The three key defence pacts signed during the
visit include the one on multi-role transport
aircraft (MTA). They also agreed on a 10-year
(2011-2020) deal on weapons, aircraft and maintenance
contract potentially worth at least $5 billion.
All defence deals between the two countries will
come under the 10-year agreement.
The pact would include a $1 billion deal for
80 Russian Mi-17 helicopters and contracts for
fitting Brahmos missiles into Sukhoi fighter plans,
work on which is already in progress.
The two countries are also working on the joint
development of a stealth Fifth Generation Fighter
Aircraft (FGFA). The Indian Air Force hopes to
induct this aircraft in 2017.
A third pact covers after-sales product support
for defence equipment of Russian origin.
The two countries shared common views on regional
and global issues, including climate, economic
crisis, terrorism and the situation in Afghanistan
and Pakistan.
“Our views are similar on global issues and
our cooperation can extend to cooperation at the
international level,” Dr Manmohan Singh said.
“We will be sharing intelligence and information
gathering.”
President Medvedev expressed concern over the
“grave challenge of terrorism” and said he held
discussion “in great detail” with the Indian Prime
Minister on global security and terrorism.
“We discussed Afghanistan and its interlinkage
with Pakistan. We need to consolidate nationhood
in Afghanistan after the recent elections,” he
said.
The Russian leader said: “There is a common threat
that India and Russia face. We should consolidate
our anti-terror base. We will provide concrete
help in anti-terror activities…
“The situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan underlines
the importance of this... Terrorism is the biggest
evil of the current and last century.”
Russian atomic energy chief Sergei Kiriyenko
and India’s Atomic Energy Commission Chairman
Srikumar Banerjee signed the document on nuclear
cooperation in the presence of the media and delegates
of the two countries.
(IANS)
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