The Prime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee attended a banquet at Kremlin yesterday. The following is the English rendering of the text of the Prime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s speech made in Hindi on the occasion yesterday:

~I thank Your Excellency for your kind words. I would like to express, on behalf of my delegation and myself, sincere appreciation for the warmth and generosity of the hospitality extended to us.

Excellency, I was here as External Affairs Minister over two decades ago. Since then, much has changed in the political structures, economic conditions and social fabric of both our countries. The global scene has seen some dramatic political upheavals and economic transformations.

But the genuine friendship and spontaneous affection of our Russian hosts has remained undiluted by the passage of time and the changed circumstances. This is a tribute to the enduring nature of relations between our two countries. Our mutual trust and confidence is backed by a steadfast national consensus in both our countries. As multiethnic pluralist democracies, we share common ideals.

Excellency, history evolves continuously and politics is never static but geography is a constant. That is why there is a compelling geo-strategic logic for close Indo-Russian relations clearly grasped by leadership of both countries regardless of its political or economic ideology. The similarity of our world views includes a common interest in the development of a multi-polar world. As two large and modernizing economies, we also have similar concerns about the pace and direction of the globalization process. We have crucial and complementary interests in the complex security matrix of Asia.

Mr. President, our talks today touched on these and a number of other issues, which are all interwoven in the rich tapestry of our strategic partnership.

We reviewed with satisfaction the progress in every aspect of our bilateral relationship since your visit to India last year. We have agreed on an ambitious agenda for further intensification of bilateral cooperation particularly in the economic field. Our defence cooperation is vibrant and diversified. We have extremely fruitful collaboration in the peaceful applications of space research and nuclear energy.

Mr. President, we also discussed the implications for all humanity, indeed for world civilization of the unchecked advance of international terrorism. Both India and Russia have had lived with and fought against a number of terrorist networks that spread only the message of hate and destruction around the world. For too long, some countries have turned a blind eye to – or have actively supported – funding, arming or training of terrorists on their soil.

You, Mr. President, said this in your address to the Indian Parliament in October last year, and I quote: ~….the same terrorist and extremist organizations, and very often the same individuals participate in organizing, conducting and inciting terrorist acts from the Philippines to Kosovo including Kashmir, Afghanistan and Russia’s northern Caucasus.~

Both India and Russia have been warning that the cancer of terrorism can only spread if not treated decisively. Today we stand with the rest of the international community in every possible measure to deny funds, arms and shelter to every terrorist organization regardless of its ideological garb.

We hope that the military campaign against terrorist networks in Afghanistan will achieve early success and that effective international mechanisms could be put in place in that troubled country for lasting peace through political reconciliation and economic reconstruction.

Mr. President, we have watched with admiration your courageous initiatives to chart a path of dynamic economic growth and political consolidation. Your visionary leadership is building a strong and forward looking Russia, confident in its democratic ethos, upholding its national pride and preserving its cultural traditions. We wish you well as you progress firmly on the path of stability and prosperity.

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, may I now request you to join me in a toast:

to the health and happiness of His Excellency President Vladimir Putin;

to the progress and prosperity of the friendly people of the Russian Federation; and

to the strong bonds of friendship and to the strategic partnership between India and the Russian Federation.