Former Prime Minister of India - Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee

JOINT STATEMENT

At the invitation of His Excellency Mr. Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, His Excellency Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Prime Minister of the Republic of India, paid a state visit to the Russian Federation from November 4-7, 2001. This visit was in line with the agreement to have annual Summit Meetings outlined in the Declaration on Strategic Partnership signed at the time of the State visit to India by President Putin in October 2000.

During his visit to the Russian Federation, Prime Minister Vajpayee met with President Putin, Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation Mr. Mikhail Kasyanov and Speaker of the State Duma of the Russian Federation Mr. Gennady Seleznyev. Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation and Co-Chairman of the Indo-Russian Inter Governmental Commission (IRIGC) for Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation and IRIGC for Military-Technical Cooperation Mr. Ilya Klebanov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Mr. Igor Ivanov and Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation Mr. Sergei Ivanov called on Prime Minister Vajpayee.

Prime Minister Vajpayee was conferred an Honorary Doctorate by the Moscow State University.

Prime Minister Vajpayee also visited St. Petersburg where he attended a dinner hosted by Mr. Vladimir Yakovlev, Governor of the St. Petersburg Regional Administration. He inaugurated an exhibition of Indian paintings at the Russian Museum.

A Moscow Declaration on International Terrorism was signed by the Prime Minister of India and the President of the Russian Federation. A number of other bilateral documents were signed for strengthening cooperation in other fields. A Joint Statement on Strategic Issues was agreed upon.

During the meetings, discussions took place on bilateral matters, and on regional and international issues of mutual interest. The talks were held in a frank and friendly atmosphere in the true spirit of the strategic partnership existing between the two countries. Both Sides stressed upon the time-tested relationship between India and the Russian Federation which has been marked by continuity, trust and mutual understanding. A close identity of views was noted on issues of mutual global interest.

The Sides stressed the significance of the Declaration on Strategic Partnership signed by President of the Russian Federation and the Prime Minister of India in October 2000 which has elevated the multifaceted ties between the countries to a qualitatively new and higher level, has laid a strong foundation for further development of Indo-Russian relations, and strengthened common understanding and trust between them.

Both Sides highlighted the forward movement in bilateral relations pursuant to the decisions taken during the visit of President Putin. They agreed to give greater depth, span and content to their bilateral relations and identified steps to further strengthen them.

The Sides noted the excellent political contacts between the two countries. This has been marked in the regular meetings at the Ministerial and other levels besides exchanges between the Parliamentary, Judicial as well as other Constitutional bodies. Both sides attached importance to regular and in depth Foreign Office Consultations on a wide range of issues, including strategic stability.

A comprehensive review of the trade and economic relations between the two countries was undertaken. Both sides confirmed their intention to make efforts at the diversification and establishment of new settlement procedures in the area of trade and economic cooperation. A need to focus on promoting investment, boosting trade as well as removing barriers in trade was emphasised. It was noted that the decisions taken during the Seventh session of the Indo-Russian Inter-Governmental Commission for Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC) helped in the promotion of cooperation in important areas such as civil aviation, energy and information technology. In this connection, the Inter Session Review Meeting of the Co-Chairmen held in New Delhi in October 2001 was considered significant for the further intensification of trade and economic relations between the two countries. The signing of the Intergovernmental Agreement for Promotion of Aviation Safety has opened up broad prospects for the development of bilateral ties in civil aviation. The Confederation of Indian Industries signed an agreement with the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs on setting up of representative offices in Moscow and New Delhi respectively. EXIM Bank of India signed an agreement to extend a credit line of US $ 10 million with the Vnesheconombank of the Russian Federation. The State Bank of India and the Canara Bank also reached agreement with the Central Bank of Russia for setting up a branch in Moscow. These steps will further boost bilateral trade relations between the two countries. Both sides agreed to encourage further cooperation in the area of Information Technology and Computerisation.

Emphasizing that a promising area of cooperation between the two countries was in the energy sector which is expected to occupy a central place in their bilateral relations in the coming years, the two Sides welcomed the conclusion of the agreement on participation of ONGC Videsh Limited in the Sakhalin-I oil and gas project in the Russian Federation.

Keeping in view the increasing importance of energy security, both Sides noted the growing significance of the energy sector in their bilateral relations and expressed their common desire to intensify long term collaborative efforts in this regard. Expert level discussions would be held on a possible setting up of an institutional mechanism to carry forward cooperation in the area of energy security.

The Sides reiterated their commitment to continue their cooperation in the peaceful uses of atomic energy as well as outer space. A ~Memorandum on Implementation of Kudankulam NPP Project~ was signed.

Both Sides took note of the successful development of scientific and technological cooperation between them and the establishment of the Joint Council for Implementation of the Integrated Long-Term Program of Scientific and Technological Cooperation between India and Russia for the period up to 2010.

The Sides recalled the traditional contacts in the field of culture between the two countries and emphasised that steps need to be taken for further strengthening these ties. Three Chairs and two projects of cooperation relating to Indology were established at St. Petersburg, Moscow, Kazan, and Vladivostok.

The Sides stressed that they attach importance to the development of ties between the regions of the Russian Federation and the States and Union Territories of India. They attach importance to the activities of the Working Group for Regional Cooperation under the IRIGC. Agreements were reached on the establishment of partner-relations and cooperation between the Astrakhan region in the Russian Federation and the Gujarat state in India.

The Sides noted that military-technical cooperation has acquired a new dimension covering not only trade in arms and military equipment, but also joint research and development of new projects. They considered that the First Session of the Inter Governmental Commission for Military and Technological Cooperation held in June 2001 in Moscow was mutually beneficial and productive.

The Eminent Persons Group, agreed to during President Putin’s visit to India with the objective to render assistance and prepare recommendations to the Governments of both countries in connection with various initiatives aimed at a further development of bilateral relations, strengthening of cooperation on regional and international issues, will be meeting early next year in New Delhi.

The Sides expressed satisfaction over the interaction between the National Security Council of India and the Security Council of the Russian Federation. They noted that the regular meetings of the Working Groups established under the Indo-Russian Protocol of Cooperation between the two Councils would help in further strengthening this cooperation.

Both Sides consider it one of the most pressing objectives of today to strengthen regional and global stability and international security. A Joint Statement of India and the Russian Federation on Strategic Issues was agreed to during the visit.

Both Sides reaffirmed their commitment to promote the formation of an equitable multipolar world order based on the principles of rule of law and equality, territorial integrity and non-interference in domestic affairs of States, with a view to removing threats to stability and international security. They expressed their desire for the further reform of the United Nations in order to strengthen its central role in international affairs. They agreed on the advisability to expand the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to make it more representative and increase its effectiveness. The Russian Federation reiterated that it supports India, an influential member of the international community, as a strong and appropriate candidate for the permanent membership of the expanded UNSC. Both Parties will actively cooperate within the United Nations to ensure an effective implementation of the Millennium Summit Declaration.

The Sides reaffirmed that global terrorism is a threat to international peace and security. Cooperation to combat terrorism is becoming an imperative of contemporary international reality. The two Sides believe that combating this menace should be on a comprehensive and long-term basis and should be directed also at those supporting, harbouring or providing safe haven to terrorists. India and the Russian Federation intend to make their full contribution to the establishment of such a system. They proceed from the understanding that terrorist acts admit no justification under any political, ethnic, religious, social, economic, or other grounds. Terrorism is an absolute evil; it is a global scourge to be collectively countered.

The two Sides expressed their satisfaction with the level of cooperation between India and the Russian Federation in countering international terrorism and other transnational organised crimes, which fuel terrorism, including drug trafficking. The two Sides reiterated their resolve to continue and coordinate efforts for strengthening the international legal basis for combating these challenges. In this regard, they stressed the need for the early finalisation of the Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism and the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism in the UN. A Moscow Declaration on International Terrorism was agreed upon between Prime Minister Vajpayee and President Putin during the visit.

Both Sides expressed their commitment to the territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty of Afghanistan. They agreed that for peace and stability to return to Afghanistan, it was essential to ensure the establishment of a broad-based independent government with representation from all ethnic groups. Both Sides stressed that there could be no place for elements of the Taliban in any future Afghan government. They underscored the important role the international community would have to play in the political, social and economic reconstruction of Afghanistan and in this context agreed to ensure close coordination between them to ensure the success of all such endeavours.

Both Sides also discussed the on-going operations in Afghanistan. They emphasized that this could be at best a first phase in the campaign against international terrorism which must be pursued to its logical end. For this, it was essential that every State be made to refrain from organising, instigating, assisting or participating in terrorist acts in another State, or acquiescing in organised activities within its territories directed towards the commission of such acts. They also called for the full and unconditional implementation of the relevant UNSC Resolutions on terrorism.

Both Sides remain deeply concerned over the threat to security and stability in Central Asia posed by international terrorism and religious extremism. The Sides noted with satisfaction that the two countries hold similar position on issues concerning Central Asia. In their view, regional cooperation can play an important role in stabilization of the situation in the Central Asian region.

The Sides shared their concerns over the developments in the Middle East, which is still passing through a crisis. They spoke in favor of adoption of urgent measures to resume Israeli-Palestinian dialogue on the basis of the Mitchell plan. The Sides expressed their conviction that there existed no alternative to the peace process there and declared the need to ensure a just, lasting and comprehensive peace on the basis of the Madrid principles, and, first and foremost, the relevant UN Resolutions, and the ~land for peace~ principle.

The two Sides believe that the response to the present threats and challenges to security in the Asia-Pacific region, including the escalation of terrorist acts, violent forms of extremism and separatism, should be sought through the consolidation of efforts of all the States concerned. The importance of the work within the ASEAN Regional Forum, with a view to promoting trust in the political and military sphere with future application of preventive diplomacy methods, was emphasized. India and the Russian Federation expressed their mutual readiness to further enhance constructive interaction with the countries of the Asia Pacific region in the bilateral and multilateral formats in the interests of stability and security in this vast region.

Both Sides expressed their conviction that the visit of the Prime Minister of India to the Russian Federation and the discussions held would facilitate further development of strategic partnership between the two countries, expansion of bilateral cooperation and interaction aimed at strengthening international strategic stability and in the building of a just, fair, democratic and multi-polar world order.

His Excellency Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Prime Minister of the Republic of India, extended an invitation to His Excellency Mr. Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, to visit India which was accepted with pleasure. The dates of the visit would be finalised through diplomatic channels.