PM'S MISSION TO MOSCOW

The red carpet, red guards, and the routine bonhomie were what constituted Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's Russian welcome. The visit comes amidst reports the two countries may now be marching out of step — this despite the fact that officials on Air India One have denied any such chill.

Foreign Secretary, Shiv Shanker Menon said, "There is no chill between the two countries. This is all far fetched."
During his 24-hour visit, the shortest such bilateral visit, Manmohan Singh and President Putin will announce agreements of science, space, and most of all defence.

Russia accounts for more than half of all Indian defence equipment, with more than $14 billion worth in various stages of negotiation and delivery. But arms contracts appear to have come at the cost of bilateral trade, now hovering at about $3 billion, a tenth of Indo-US trade.

Says Moscow-based businessman, Sammy Motwani, "Their goals aren't clear other than talking between themselves, other than buying arms. Why don't they talk to the business people?"
Officials say an agreement with Russia to build four more reactors at Kudankulam is unlikely to happen.


Courtesy:ibnlive.com
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