NEW DELHI, SEPT 28: India and Russia will sign the historic Declaration on Strategic Partnership and firm up agreements on defence, nuclear energy, civil aviation, agriculture, education and culture during the four-day state visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin commencing from October two.The accord on strategic partnership aimed at enhancing cooperation in diversified areas will be signed by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Putin.Briefing media persons, Foreign Secretary Lalit Mansingh today said for the first time, India has decided to buy rough diamonds from Russia, world's largest producer. An agreement will be signed between MMTC and its Russian counterpart in this regard during the visit, he said.India, the largest importer and cutter of diamonds, has captured about 55 per cent of the world diamond market in 1999-2000. Export of cut and polished diamonds achieved a growth of 36.72 per cent amounting to Rs 28,701 crore during this period.Terming Indo-Russian relations as "time-tested and based on continuity, trust and mutual understanding", Mansingh said the "mature" ties were not not at the cost of bilateral relations with other countries.He was asked whether closer Indo-US ties and Russia warming up to Pakistan would have a fallout on Indo-Russian relations.With the Russian economy opening up, there is a "new dimension" to bilateral economic cooperation, Mansingh said.India, he said, looked forward to Putin's visit, the first Presidential one in seven-and-a-half years. The last one was by then President Boris Yelstin.Putin, a trusted friend of India, recently stated that the two countries were destined to become long-term partners. The Russian leader had said that as a student he had dreamt of visiting India.The Russian President, who arrives here on October two, will be accorded a ceremonial welcome the next day. The entire gamut of bilateral relations would be discussed during wide-ranging discussions Putin will have with Vajpayee.The two leaders are also expected to review regional and international issues of mutual concern, he said.As part of high-level contacts, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Iliya Klebanov visited India earlier this month which was preceded by visits to Russia by Defence Minister George Fernandes and Human Resource Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi.External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh will call on Putin who will later have a meeting with President K R Narayanan.On October four, Putin will visit Agra and then fly to Mumbai for an interaction with the Indian business community.Discussions would also be held on steps to jointly combat international terrorism. While Russia is facing this menace in Chechnya, Indian concerns over Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and other parts are likely to be conveyed during the parleys."We consider the source (of terrorism in Chechnya and Kashmir) to be the same," Mansingh said in response to questions and added that there was need to fight it together.On the economic front, he said India hoped that the visit would open up new areas of commercial and economic cooperation.Asked how India viewed Moscow holding direct talks with Pakistan on the issue of terrorism and whether New Delhi would follow suit, he said "Russians are doing it their way and we will do it our way."To a question on India's position on UN-imposed aerial embargo on Iraq, he said New Delhi has maintained that it will be "strictly within the parameters of UN resolutions". He said an "internal review" was being done on the question of interpretation of the UN resolutions.
