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India and Russia have agreed, in principle, to jointly
develop medium range transport aircraft during a meeting
between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Russian Deputy
Prime Minister and Defence Minister Srgei Ivanov.
Dr Singh's will have a summit level meeting with President
Valdmir Putin in Moscow on Tuesday.
Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran told media persons in
Moscow, late on Monday, that the new partnership would
be on the model of earlier jointly designed and developed
supersonic cruise missile 'BrahMos'.
''It will be on the same pattern of BrahMos'', Saran
said.
Delivering the 'acceptance speech' after being conferred
with the title of 'Professor Honoris Causa' at the Moscow
University for his contributions to economics and strengthening
friendship between the two countries, Singh said Russia
and India must fight terrorism wherever it exists because
"terrorism anywhere threatens democracy everywhere."
He also talked about the opportunities for expanded
cooperation between the two countries in the fields
of biotechnology, information technology and nano-technology
and for a strategic partnership in the knowledge-based
sectors.
Emphasising that India's need for energy is increasing
exponentially and Russia has been an important partner
in its strategy for energy security, Singh said that
both nations must initiate an Energy Dialogue between
their experts and policy makers to widen and deepen
our cooperation in the field.
Describing energy security as an important challenge
of the 21st century, he said Russia and India could
work together in the field.
Singh, who is on a three-day official visit, is likely
to discuss with Putin the possibility of Russia delivering
four additional nuclear reactors for Koodankulam project.
The Prime Minister said space was an area where the
two countries have complementary capabilities.
He said that while Russia was far ahead of India in
space launch and space voyages, New Delhi had new capabilities
in satellite technology that could contribute to the
commercial viability of Russia's space programme.
He added, "working together in space is a win-win
proposition."
Observing that open societies like India and Russia
were facing the common threat of terrorism, Singh said
the menace has to be fought in all its manifestations
without loosing the values of democracy.
The Prime Minister also said that the very openness
of "our societies makes us more vulnerable, and
yet we must deal effectively with the threat without
loosing the openness we so value and cherish."
Noting that India and Russia have both suffered grievously
from terrorism and both have been working together to
fight it, Singh said, "we know that those who resort
to terror often float it in the garb of real or imaginary
grievances. We categorically affirm that no cause justifies
resort to terror."
He said Russia and India must work together in all possible
forums to counter terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,
without being selective.
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