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Primakov did not ask India to sign NPT

Tara Shankar Sahay in New Delhi

Contrary to newspaper reports today, Russian Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov did not ask his Indian counterpart Atal Bihari Vajpayee to sign the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

External affairs ministry spokesmen, including Joint Secretary (Eastern Europe) Ajay Malhotra, made this clear at an official briefing.

Malhotra clarified that during the talks at the prime ministerial as well as delegation levels, views were exchanged "on international issues of mutual interest", including non-proliferation, but "neither Mr Primakov nor any other Russian delegation member asked India to sign the NPT".

He said India's stand on the treaty is well known and so "there is no question of India being coerced to sign any document".

Earlier, senior South Block officials told Rediff On The NeT that the reports about Primakov having asked Vajpayee to sign the NPT were "grossly misinformed".

They pointed out that if the Russian premier had done so, Atomic Energy Minister Yevgeny Adamov would not have signed a deal to build two light-water 1,000-megawatt nuclear reactors at Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu.

They emphasised that the agreement had been signed despite consistent American pressure on Moscow not to conclude the deal.

Primakov's three-day visit signified that the Russians have decided to preserve their vital geo-political and economic interests in South Asia. Thus, India will be the first country to strike up a strategic partnership with the Russian Federation.

A joint Indo-Russian press statement underlined that "this political document of paramount importance will set up new parameters and guide the further development of the close partnership between India and Russia".

Malhotra, however, clarified that the strategic partnership is not directed against any state or group of states. It is just a reflection of "long-term confidence in each other".

The two sides discussed ways to highlight the unilateral American bombing of Iraq in the United Nations Security Council. Their joint statement said they deplored the missile attacks and urged resumption of diplomatic efforts under UN auspices. They noted that the US bombing raised serious questions about the functioning of the collective and consultative procedures of the UN.

According to the joint secretary, the long-term defence agreement between the two sides also specified that Russia would not supply arms to Pakistan.

Answering a question, he said Russia's support to India on Kashmir was firm. The joint statement pointed out that "the Russian side also reaffirmed its support for India's efforts to normalise relations with Pakistan on the basis of the 1972 Simla Agreement".

The South Block officials pointed out that Primakov's visit showed that Moscow had perceived that in view of the nuclear tests in South Asia, the American influence is decreasing while China's is increasing, especially with Pakistan. That is why the Russians have decided to strengthen their time-tested ties with India.

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