Russia to build more nuclear reactors in India - Summary

(WARNING): Article contains propaganda!

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New Delhi - India and Russia signed a host of agreements on defense and nuclear energy cooperation Friday, including a pact setting out a road map for serial construction of Russian-built nuclear reactors in India. The agreements were signed during the day-long visit of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

The road map for nuclear cooperation provided for the construction of up to 16 nuclear reactors at three sites in the future, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov told reporters on the sidelines of talks between Putin and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Russia is already constructing two nuclear reactors at the Kudankulam plant in the southern state of Tamil Nadu.

Another deal worth 1.5 billion dollars under which Russia would provide 29 MiG-29K fighter aircraft for India's Navy was sealed during the visit, the director general of the MiG group, Mikhail Pogossyan, was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies.

An agreement had been reached on the aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov which had been bought by India and was being refurbished by Russia, state-run television Doordarshan reported.

The Gorshkov, named the Vikramaditya in India, would be delivered by 2012. India's federal cabinet recently approved a new price of 2.35 billion dollars for the carrier.

The Gorshkov has been a thorn in the side of relations between the two countries with disputes over pricing and delays of the delivery date. The original contract to acquire the carrier was signed in 2004 and delivery scheduled for 2008.

Besides the nuclear pacts, agreements were signed for Indian civilian use of the Russian satellite navigation system and in the fertilizer sector.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said his talks with Putin were comprehensive and covered bilateral, regional and global issues.

He said India and Russia had agreed to intensify cooperation on Afghanistan and terrorism.

Putin said Russia placed great importance on its strategic partnership with India.

Earlier, during a video conference interaction with Indian business leaders, Putin said Russia understood India's concerns regarding banned terror outfits operating against it from Pakistan's territory.

But, he added, Pakistan had in the recent months initiated action against those groups.

"As far as terror groups in Afghanistan and Pakistan are concerned, it is a matter of worry for the entire region and in fact, the whole world," Putin said.

He said India and Russia were located close to Afghanistan and the situation there impacted the security of both countries.

Putin, who is on a day-long visit to India, called on President Pratibha Patil and also met Congress Party president Sonia Gandhi.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/313807,russia-to-build-more-nuclear-reactors-in-india--summary.html.