ID :
153840
Sat, 12/18/2010 - 10:36
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Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/153840
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Over 15 pacts to be inked during Medvedev's visit
New Delhi, Dec 17 (PTI) More than 15 pacts in key
areas of civil nuclear cooperation and defence, including one
on fifth generation fighter aircraft, will be inked during the
visit of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who is arriving
here on Monday night.
While the two sides are expected to sign a general
framework agreement on construction of two more nuclear power
units, Moscow was still awaiting a "precise explanation" on
how the civil nuclear liability law will affect bilateral
cooperation, Russian Ambassador to India Alexander M Kadakin
said Friday.
However, he clarified that he does not see it as an
"impediment or hurdle" to the cooperation between the two
countries in the field. He also said that it was up to the
government to explain how the domestic law will be applied on
the implementation of the contracts.
Briefing reporters on the Presidential visit, he said
that Medvedev, who will be here for the annual India-Russia
Summit, will hold talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on
a range of bilateral and regional matters, including situation
in Afghanistan and Pakistan, apart from global issues.
Identifying cooperation in civil nuclear field as one
of the most important components of Indo-Russia ties, he said
his country was ready to build over a dozen nuclear power
plants in India in next 15-20 years for which sites have
to be identified by the government.
"This month or early next month, the first unit in
Kudankulam (Tamil Nadu) will be commissioned and that is the
fundamental difference, and that is the real substance of
Russian-Indian strategic partnership," he said.
The 1000 MW unit, being constructed for the last three
years, is one of the four such units in Kudankulam to be built
through collaboration with Russia.
Initially, India had earmarked a site in Haripur for
the construction of two Russian nuclear power plants, but due
to stiff resistance from locals, the government was forced
to look for alternative sites, including one in Orissa.
Taking a dig at other countries wanting to have civil
nuclear cooperation with India, he said, "Plans of your future
partners in nuclear cooperation is of virtual character like
on a computer monitor and is of more hypothetical."
In defence cooperation, the two sides are expected to
sign a pact on joint production of 5th generation fighters
(FGAs) during the visit, he said.
Enhancing economic relations will be another important
aspect of the visit as both sides feel that business ties were
yet to achieve their potential. Both the countries have set a
trade target of USD 20 billion in next five years.
Hoping that India will bring its civilian nuclear
liability legislation on a par with global conventions such as
Vienna, Kadakin said international agreements take supremacy
over domestic laws.
Not only Russia, but other countries, including the US
and France have expressed their concerns over the law, passed
by Parliament here in monsoon session, regarding the liability
clause for suppliers in case of nuclear accident. The law
caps the operator's liability at Rs 1,500 crore.
To allay concerns, India has signed the Convention on
Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage (CSC) which will
give India access to a global fund for compensation in case of
a nuclear accident with trans-national implications.
Reacting to India's civil nuclear ties with other
countries, the Russian envoy said Moscow was not "jealous" as
the Indian market is big enough to accommodate other players.
On Russia's position on India's bid for permanent
membership of the UN Security Council, he said his country was
always for it "wholeheartedly".
He said his country has been all along maintaining
that India's inclusion will benefit the UN and all other
members but expressed surprise over why it took so long for
other countries to come out and support India's bid for the
permanent seat.
Other areas in which the pacts are likely to be signed
during the Presidential visit will be visa streamlining for
businessmen and students, cooperation in space research and
scientific technology.
During his two day visit, the Russian President will
also go to Agra and Mumbai where he will pay homage to the
victims of 26/11 terror attacks. He will also meet Bollywood
stars to know more about the Hindi film industry.
He said both countries were also working on a joint
document which will define the new stage of Indo-Russian ties
and reflect joint views on important bilateral, regional and
global views.
Answering a query on India's role in Afghanistan, he
said his country feels India is playing a very important role
in the re-construction of the war-torn country and wants it to
play even greater role. "We do not want India to be
sidelined," he added. PTI PYK
PBL
areas of civil nuclear cooperation and defence, including one
on fifth generation fighter aircraft, will be inked during the
visit of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who is arriving
here on Monday night.
While the two sides are expected to sign a general
framework agreement on construction of two more nuclear power
units, Moscow was still awaiting a "precise explanation" on
how the civil nuclear liability law will affect bilateral
cooperation, Russian Ambassador to India Alexander M Kadakin
said Friday.
However, he clarified that he does not see it as an
"impediment or hurdle" to the cooperation between the two
countries in the field. He also said that it was up to the
government to explain how the domestic law will be applied on
the implementation of the contracts.
Briefing reporters on the Presidential visit, he said
that Medvedev, who will be here for the annual India-Russia
Summit, will hold talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on
a range of bilateral and regional matters, including situation
in Afghanistan and Pakistan, apart from global issues.
Identifying cooperation in civil nuclear field as one
of the most important components of Indo-Russia ties, he said
his country was ready to build over a dozen nuclear power
plants in India in next 15-20 years for which sites have
to be identified by the government.
"This month or early next month, the first unit in
Kudankulam (Tamil Nadu) will be commissioned and that is the
fundamental difference, and that is the real substance of
Russian-Indian strategic partnership," he said.
The 1000 MW unit, being constructed for the last three
years, is one of the four such units in Kudankulam to be built
through collaboration with Russia.
Initially, India had earmarked a site in Haripur for
the construction of two Russian nuclear power plants, but due
to stiff resistance from locals, the government was forced
to look for alternative sites, including one in Orissa.
Taking a dig at other countries wanting to have civil
nuclear cooperation with India, he said, "Plans of your future
partners in nuclear cooperation is of virtual character like
on a computer monitor and is of more hypothetical."
In defence cooperation, the two sides are expected to
sign a pact on joint production of 5th generation fighters
(FGAs) during the visit, he said.
Enhancing economic relations will be another important
aspect of the visit as both sides feel that business ties were
yet to achieve their potential. Both the countries have set a
trade target of USD 20 billion in next five years.
Hoping that India will bring its civilian nuclear
liability legislation on a par with global conventions such as
Vienna, Kadakin said international agreements take supremacy
over domestic laws.
Not only Russia, but other countries, including the US
and France have expressed their concerns over the law, passed
by Parliament here in monsoon session, regarding the liability
clause for suppliers in case of nuclear accident. The law
caps the operator's liability at Rs 1,500 crore.
To allay concerns, India has signed the Convention on
Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage (CSC) which will
give India access to a global fund for compensation in case of
a nuclear accident with trans-national implications.
Reacting to India's civil nuclear ties with other
countries, the Russian envoy said Moscow was not "jealous" as
the Indian market is big enough to accommodate other players.
On Russia's position on India's bid for permanent
membership of the UN Security Council, he said his country was
always for it "wholeheartedly".
He said his country has been all along maintaining
that India's inclusion will benefit the UN and all other
members but expressed surprise over why it took so long for
other countries to come out and support India's bid for the
permanent seat.
Other areas in which the pacts are likely to be signed
during the Presidential visit will be visa streamlining for
businessmen and students, cooperation in space research and
scientific technology.
During his two day visit, the Russian President will
also go to Agra and Mumbai where he will pay homage to the
victims of 26/11 terror attacks. He will also meet Bollywood
stars to know more about the Hindi film industry.
He said both countries were also working on a joint
document which will define the new stage of Indo-Russian ties
and reflect joint views on important bilateral, regional and
global views.
Answering a query on India's role in Afghanistan, he
said his country feels India is playing a very important role
in the re-construction of the war-torn country and wants it to
play even greater role. "We do not want India to be
sidelined," he added. PTI PYK
PBL
