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Primakov's visit to consolidate Indo-Russian ties

Russia and India will sign major agreements on defence, trade and economic co-operation during Russian Prime Minister Yevgeni Primakov's visit to New Delhi starting Sunday.

An old India hand, Primakov's visit assumes greater significance in the context of the bombings in Iraq by the United States and United Kingdom.

Russia's envoy to India, Anatoly Chernoshevsky is optimistic about the Delhi summit consolidating the existing ties, especially in the defence and economic fields.

The highlight of the deals would be Russia's readiness to share its technology in the power sector. A top official of the Russian fuel and power ministry, Pavel Bezurukhi told the Voice of Russia that the new power equipment would enable hydel and thermal stations cut down transmission losses.

The 69-year-old Primakov, who in 1996 enunciated the famous 'multi-polar world' theory, has worked as correspondent for the daily Pravda , as the head of international department in Moscow Radio, at the World and Economic Institute of Oriental Studies and the World Social and Economic Institute before his stint as Kremlin's ''political dynamite.''

Mikhail Gorbachev, the last Soviet president, had banked on Primakov to tackle several international crises of the '80s. The Russian prime minister is also credited to have almost persuaded Iraqi President Saddam Hussein in pulling out of Kuwait during the 1990-'91 Gulf War.

President Boris Yeltsin appointed Primakov as head of Russia's sensitive Foreign Intelligence Agency, which speaks volumes about his ability to weave situations as per demands the of time. Later he was entrusted with Russia's most unenviable job, prime minister, when the country was in the throes of its worst economic crisis.

Paens are sung in his praise. The Russian daily Moskovsky Komsovolets recently said, ''Primakov can come to terms with both US Foreign Secretary Madeleine Albright and Iraqi President Saddam Hussein at the same time.'' Another daily Segodnya wrote, ''He is Russia's Churchill, such are his achievements in foreign politics.''

Yegor Yakovlev, former editor of the Moscow News says, ''He is not mercenary-minded. Diplomacy is in his blood. His balanced judgements and friendly treatment of all help him to open doors to all without kicking them in.''

Initiator of the idea of 'strategic partnership' with India, he had last visited India in 1996 as foreign minister.

UNI

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