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V S Chandrasekar in St Petersburg
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Sunday night arrived in Russia on the first leg of his three-nation tour for talks seeking to bolster the fight against terrorism, discuss Afghanistan's future and give a new dimension to the strategic partnership between New Delhi and Moscow.
Vajpayee was received at the Pulkovo international airport in this historic city by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Ilya Klebanov and St Petersburg Governor Vladimir Yakolev as he stepped out of the special Air India aircraft after a nine-and-half-hour detour journey forced by the Afghan conflict.
In his departure statement in New Delhi, the prime minister said, "In my discussions in all three countries, I will place particular emphasis on issues relating to international terrorism and the urgent need to address the challenges of a post-conflict Afghanistan."
Vajpayee said his parleys with President Vladimir Putin and other Russian leaders would focus on further accelerating the enhanced tempo of bilateral ties, deepening political understanding and expanding the range of economic interactions.
"We will also discuss important regional and international developments," he said.
Recalling Putin's visit to New Delhi in October last, Vajpayee said both the countries had signed a Declaration on Strategic Partnership and agreed on annual summit level meetings.
"Now, efforts would be made to further strengthen the time-tested relationship between the two countries," he told reporters.
With regard to Indo-US ties, Vajpayee said though there were differences during the Cold War, the climate was conducive now and both the countries were together in fighting global terrorism.
Stating that he was paying a working visit to the US at the invitation of President George W Bush, the prime minister said he hoped to discuss consolidation of the many positive trends in Indo-US relations over the recent years.
"We will also exchange views on important international developments and current issues of concern," he said.
Vajpayee said he would also be interacting with a cross section of members of the US Congress and representatives of the Indian American community.
He said his visit to New York to address the United Nations General Assembly would provide him an opportunity to meet some important world leaders.
In London, he said, he would be picking up the threads of his discussions with British Prime Minister Tony Blair during the latter's visit to New Delhi recently.
Stating that Indo-UK relations had developed and diversified strongly in recent years, he said, "We will discuss them (bilateral ties) and our approach to current international developments."
PTI
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