Putin arrives in India to cement several pacts

[Dover]

Putin arrives in India to cement several pacts

The Associated Press, Reuters, Agence France-Presse Saturday, December 4, 2004

NEW DELHI President Vladimir Putin of Russia arrived Friday to hold talks on expanding trade and cooperation in defense, energy and space with India, a longtime ally of the Soviet Union during the cold war.
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The two countries are expected to make a joint declaration and sign several deals, including agreements on exploring peaceful uses of outer space, easier visa rules and India's inclusion in the Russia-promoted global satellite navigation system, an Indian official said.
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During the three-day visit, Putin is also expected to push for support for Russia's entry into the World Trade Organization.
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"We on both sides have chalked out a comprehensive agenda for the talks," an Indian Foreign Ministry official said before Putin's arrival with government officials and representatives of Russian armament firms.
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Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the ex-prime minister who headed a Hindu nationalist coalition, had drawn India closer to Washington and built strong defense ties with Israel; under him, India was slowly moving away from its dependence on Moscow for arms supplies. Putin was said to be hoping to counter these shifts during talks with Indian leaders.
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Indeed, Putin began his visit with some pointed criticism of the United States. "We are alarmed by a difficult and dramatic situation in Iraq," Putin told The Hindu in written responses to questions. "This is the threat Russia repeatedly warned the U.S. and their allies about before action was taken against the Hussein regime."..cont'd

http://www.iht.com/articles/2004/12/03/news/delhi.html

[cthrumatrix]

1. Putin's making deals....while shrub pisses off the world.

Country's are making deals for the resources left on this planet...now you know why we are parked on Iraq and told France and Russia they can't play with the oil.

[nashville_brook]

2. the poot has been busy today!

he's a man on a mission!

[Just Me]

3. Well, the right-wing machinery said they were actively changing,...

,...the status quo. I guess I can't disagree with them on that point.

[maddezmom]

4. meanwhile * is dealing with Pakistan

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1521&ncid=731&e=1&u=/afp/20041203/pl_afp/us_pakistan_whouse

[Minstrel Boy]

5. Yukos, Arms Top Agenda in India

Yukos, Arms Top Agenda in India

By Lyuba Pronina, Moscow Times

Energy and arms deals are expected to top the agenda as President Vladimir Putin begins a four-day swing through India and Turkey on Friday.

On his first stop, New Delhi, Putin could win political and financial support for his coup de grace against Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the sale of Yukos core production unit Yuganskneftegaz, if India's state-run Oil and Natural Gas Corporation agrees to take part in the auction.

Putin will also be looking to sign arms sales and cooperation deals with India, which last year surpassed China as Russia's No. 1 arms customer.

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Putin's visit comes a day after Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov -- in India on a three-day visit since Tuesday -- and his Indian counterpart, Pranab Mukherjee, said they had agreed on new investments on developing weapons systems together.

"We are moving from a buyer-seller relationship to the joint development of new military technology," Ivanov told reporters in India after meeting Mukherjee, Reuters reported Thursday.

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2004/12/03/001.html