MOSCOW PTI: The pro-government “lzvestia” daily on July2 alleged that Russian President Boris Yelisin had agreed to scrap the cryogenic rocket engine deal with India if the United States gave adequate compensation.
The influential eveninger said that “in principle agreement on this question had been reached” at the Vancouver summit between Yeltsin and U.S. President Bill Clinton.
The persisting differences between Moscow and Washington Over the conditions of Russia’s entry into the launch market, its acceptance of the missile control regime and the Indo Russian contract led to the abrupt cancellation of the scheduled visit to the United States of Russian Premier Viktor Chernomyrdin.
Russia is keen to enter the satellite launch market because it is confident of game ring a major Share given the cost effectiveness Of its launchers and therefor: huge forcing currency revenues.
The stumbling block is the fact that most non-Russian satellites in the world use some U.S. components and therefore Washington’s permission is required to launch the satellite.
The United States is linking the provision of such permission to Russia to the acceptance by Moscow of the (MTGR) Missile Technology Control Regime, and the Scrapping of the Indo Russian contract.
“Izvestia identified three major Spheres of difference; The extension of MI’CR conditions of Russia’s relations with countries Of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), exchange of prior information between U.S. ‘and Russia on contracts involving missile technologies, and a transitory period 10 allow Russia to review its international contracts. Highly placed sources both at the Department of Space and the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) in Bangalore that the fate of the Rs 235crore deal was now shrouded in uncertainty, However, they said, emphasized as of now there was no news from the Russians of change in plans. “We are hopeful that the deal will not be cancelled,” a Department of Space official said. Another official advisor said: “We cannot say anything at all now.” However, both India and Russia have repeatedly denied that the engines could be used for military purpose.
In January this year, Russian President Boris Yeltsin paid an official visit (6 Delhi and declared that he would not back out of the deal under pressure from the US. According {6 latest reports, however, Yeltsin is having second thoughts because of the stand of the Russian Foreign Ministry, The US has already dispatched a senior official to Moscow to resolve the controversial issue of the deal with India. The Clinton Administration wants to arrive at an understanding with Russia before the start of the Tokyo meeting of the Group of Seven industrialized countries. Russian officials are worried that the US might not offer economic aid if the rocket deal was not canceled. If the deal is cancelled, the ISRO would be forced to postpone the 199596 GSLY launch.
Rocket Deal: The Chief of Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has rushed to Moscow to save the Indo Russian deal which is threatened by US pressure.
Than interview, just before leaving for Moscow {0 review the progress on the engine program, Rao said, “We hope to receive as per the agreement the first cryogenic engine around middle of 1995 and six months before the Launch of the GSLV_In the meanwhile, the development, design and the tests are going on as per schedule” The space commission chairman said during his recent US visit, he had met the vice president and explained to him that the Indian Space program was 4 civilian program and not a defence one for which goals had been set 20 years ago. PSLY (Polar Satellite Launching Vehicle) and the GSLF (Geostationary Satellite Launching Vehicle) are not today’s programs.
If we look at our profiles this is what we have said,” “Our aim is to help farmers grow more food, sustainable development, flood and forest management, fisheries, communication meteorology and satellite based television and radio services.”
Article extracted from this publication >> July 16, 1993
Article extracted from this publication >>