Time to correct notion of ‘diluting ties’: Envoy

“Putin’s presence as chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi will politically symbolise the value India attaches to its relations with Russia,” said Sibal, pointing out that it was the first time that a Russian leader would be a special guest at the Republic Day celebrations. “… The perception of a dilution of the importance of India-Russia relations will get corrected,” he added.

Putin and Singh have a wide-ranging agenda for the seventh annual summit between the two countries, which includes international, regional and bilateral issues. The two sides are expected to sign as many as 10 agreements, in the fields of energy, space, defence, IT and culture. A joint statement will be issued at the end of the visit.

“… There is a great sense of comfort in Indo-Russian relationship,” Sibal said.

The diplomat added that India is keen to move from the buyer-seller relationship to joint development, production and marketing with Russia. “That is why, we repeatedly cite the BrahMos anti-ship cruise missile as an example of the direction in which we would like to go with Russia,” Sibal said.

Keeping in mind Russia’s hydrocarbon resources and India’s growing need for energy, New Delhi is trying to place energy cooperation at the centre of the economic relationship with Moscow. The arrival of two shipments of crude oil from Sakhalin-1 has given India the confidence that a relationship with Russia in this area is viable despite the lack of geographical proximity.

Moscow has shown interest in Indian capital investment in the Sakhalin-III oil and gas project in Russia’s Far East, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov said in Bangalore.

India has demonstrated readiness to give access to Russian oil and gas majors to downstream facilities in exchange for upstream hydrocarbon assets in Russia. A delegation of OVL, the overseas arm of ONGC, was recently in Moscow, ahead of Putin’s visit, to hold talks for possible deals.

India has always been keen to co-operate with Russia on nuclear projects. But the countries have found it difficult to move ahead because of energy restrictions.

“We hope, during Putin’s visit, we will be able to register a greater meeting of minds on what lies ahead in terms of Indo-Russian civilian nuclear relation,” a source said.

Russia is already building two nuclear reactors at Kudankulam.

“The current experience of working together provides a good foundation for greater involvement in this sector,” the source said.