ASSEMBLY POLL '98
COMMENTARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ELECTIONS '98
ARCHIVES

Yeltsin cancels state visit to India, to send Primakov

President Boris Yeltsin today cancelled his state visit to India next month and deputed Prime Minister Yevgeni Primakov to go to New Delhi in his place.

Announcing this the president's press secretary Dimitri Yakushkim, however, did not give any reasons for the decision.

The cancellation of Yeltsin's visit to New Delhi reinforces doubts about his health.

Earlier he had cancelled his visit to Kuala Lumpur for the ASEAN meet. There too Primakov had deputised for the president.

According to the schedule, Yeltsin was to visit Delhi for three days from December six to eight. It was not clear yet whether Primakov will be in New Delhi on the same dates.

The president according, to press secretary, accords utmost importance to continuing and strengthening the traditional friendly relations with India and hopes that level of relations between the two countries will not only continue but will be raised to a higher level.

UNI

Tell us what you think of this report