Russia dispatches rescue workers for quake-stricken areas

The plane will be carrying special equipment, for rescue work, the radiosaid. The Emergency Situations Ministry is headed by Sergei Shoigu, leader of the pro-Kremlin Unity party and a key ally of Putin.

On Friday, Putin in his message of felicitations to President K.R.Narayanan and Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, on the occasion of 51st anniversary of the Republic Day, expressed the hope that the traditionalIndo-Russian relations, now developed into a "strategic partnership," willcontinue growing.

"We appreciate the partnership relations with your country that have beentested by time," Putin said in his message to Vajpayee. "We are united bythe closeness and in some cases coincidence of the main national interests,firm commitment to ideals of peace and democratic movement."

"I remember with a special feeling meetings with in Delhi. Our constructive discussions clearly confirmed the high level of confidence and consent, existing between our two countries," the Russian President emphasized.

"I’m sure that the Russian-Indian successfully developing interaction, which has obtained a qualitatively new measurement of the strategic partnership will become in the 21st century one of the most important elements of the multipolar order under formation."

Vajpayee is expected to pay a visit to Russia during next summer. Echoing the same sentiments of traditional friendship between the two countries, Putin in his message to Narayanan said that "It is delightful to realize that more than a half of a century, Russia and India are bound by the ties of friendship and cooperation."

"In the course of our fruitful discussions in Delhi, I was convinced once again that Russian-Indian relations have not only the respectful past but a bright future," Russian leader said.

On the eve of the Republic Day, Indian Embassy in collaboration with the Russian State Library held a photo exhibition "India and Russia through images" at the premises of Russian State Library.

The exhibition reflects the multi-dimensional aspects of 50 years of Indo-Russian relations through the visit of Putin, last year.

The exhibition was inaugurated by Russian Cultural Minister Mikhail Shvydkov, in the presence of Indian ambassador to Moscow S.K.Lambah.

Artistes from Jawaharlal Nehru Cultural Centre (JNCC) present a variety ofdance and music numbers.