Concluding his visit to Russia, Tajikistan and Syria, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Sunday said it has given a fresh impetus to bilateral cooperation with these "important countries" in regions of great political, economic and strategic significance for India.
Before emplaning for home, in a statement he spoke about the gains of the visit and allayed Arab apprehensions declaring India's firm commitment to the West Asian peace process on the basis of full implementation of UN resolutions and 'Land for Peace' principle.
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"NAM should carve out a role for itself in the new world order by emerging as a collective, pragmatic and serious voice of the south," Vajpayee said in an interview to the Arabic daily al Ba'ath in Damascus. "As a longstanding member of this movement, Syria would have an important role in this objective of revitalising NAM," he said.
Vaypayee, who held extensive talks with Syrian President Basher al Assad on the situation in the Middle East and Iraq, said, "We remain concerned at the continuing cycle of violence and counter-violence in the region. I reiterated India's continued commitment to the West Asian peace process."
On his talks with President Assad, Vajpayee said the two sides had agreed to set up a Group of Experts to make specific recommendations on areas for bilateral cooperation with Syria showing particular interest in expanding Indian presence in hydrocarbons, fertilisers, power generation, irrigation as well as information technology and biotechnology sectors.
New vistas of cooperation have emerged with the economic change in both the countries, he said. "India-Syria relationship was based on historical links, and our common position in international fora including the Non-Aligned Movement."
Noting that Syria has been offered a credit line of 25 million dollars, he said India has also extended a grant of $1million for developing Syria National Biotechnology Centre as a centre of excellence in the region.
About his extensive discussions on bilateral, regional and international issues with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Vajpayee said Moscow has shown "great understanding" on all major issues of Indian concern and shared his perspectives on developments in "our common neighbourhood".
"This identity or similarity of views is reflected in our Joint Declaration. We paid particular attention to our cooperation against terrorism," he said. "Our strategic partnership with Russia not only encompasses our political, economic, defence and cultural cooperation, it is also an important element in our efforts for a multipolar world order."
Strengthening of defence ties and expanding of cooperation in energy sector were discussed along with continuing the existing cooperation in Kudankulam nuclear power plant as well as Sakhalin-I oilfield project. The two countries also decided to discuss further cooperation in the field of space technologies, especially in satellite navigation.
A joint taskforce has been set up to suggest specific measures to enhance India-Russia bilateral trade and investment and the two countries were looking forward to receiving its recommendations soon. Noting that he was accompanied by a large Indian business delegation, he said that to facilitate travel of tourists and business representatives, New Delhi has agreed to increase the frequency of flights between India and Russia and has offered the Russian national carrier the fifth freedom right to link Afghanistan with the two countries.
On his visit to India's nearest Central Asian neighbour Tajikistan, the Prime Minister said it was "timely" and the two countries were building a wide-ranging and intensive relationship based on shared cultural traditions and commitment to democracy and secularism as well as common interest in regional stability.
Vajpayee said that during his discussions with Tajik President Enomali Rakhmanov the two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation against terrorism particularly in the shared neighbourhood.
"We are intensifying our interaction in defence and security while building an equally extensive economic and commercial relationship," he said. The prime minister said they have agreed to actively cooperate in upgrading surface transport links between India and Tajikistan through Iran and Afghanistan.
Vajpayee said India looked forward to the visits of the presidents of the three countries on mutually convenient dates.