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India, Russia hold talks to finalise treaty

India and Russia are holding two days of talks aimed at finalising the long-term treaty between the two countries on defence, economic and technical collaboration.

The two countries agreed today to draft plans for a wide-ranging strategic partnership, the Associated Press quoted the two foreign ministers as saying.

The talks between visiting External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh and his Russian counterpart Igor Ivanov demonstrated the "similarity of the views and positions traditional for Russian-Indian relations", Ivanov said.

Singh was quoted by Voice of Russia as telling the media that President Boris Yeltsin's visit to India later this year will be a landmark in bilateral relations.

Ivanov said a declaration laying out a new strategic relationship between Russia and India would be signed soon.

Singh, who also discussed the Kosovo conflict with his Russian counterpart and in a telephone call with Yeltsin, said his talks took place in the "friendliest atmosphere and were extremely productive".

Commenting on his talks with leaders in the Kremlin, Singh said India favours expansion of its strategic relationship with Russia.

He also had detailed discussions with Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov, a serious candidate for the presidency in next year's election.

Indo-Russian friendship is a gift of history for mankind, Luzhkov said after the meeting.

Commenting on the talks with Singh, Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin told the Novosti news agency that the discussions are taking place at a time of trial for the world community.

Both countries have common views on the Kosovo conflict and have demanded immediate cessation of air strikes by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation on Yugoslavia, Singh told journalists.

UNI

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