NEW DELHI: In a symbolic return to the days of Indo Soviet friendship, a hot line is to be set up between the Kremlin and the Prime Minister’s office (PMO) in New Delhi,
An agreement to set up the hot line, which will enable the Russian President and the Indian Prime Minister to be in constant touch and exchange views on international affairs, is to be signed during the visit to New Delhi the last weekend of March, by the Russian Foreign Minister, Yevgeni Primakov.
A hot line linking the Kremlin and the PMO existed during the balmy days of Indo Soviet friendship under Leonid Brezhnev and Indira Gandhi. But in later years, as the priorities of the USSR changed and the stare eventually disintegrated, the hot line went into disuse and was later dismantled.
Teams of officials of the Department of Telecommunications have recently visited Russia in an effort to revive the channel for high level communication.
The bilateral agreement to be signed on Saturday will set the seal on the efforts by technical personnel on both ‘sides to facilitate regular contact between the Heads of Government in India and Russia.
The hot line is part of an effort by the two governments to give more sub stance to their ‘strategic partnership. Moscow and New Delhi have both been talking about it since Prime Minister PV. Narasimha Rao visited Moscow in mid1994. During Primakov’s visit, both sides will make efforts to define this partnership and put it in the context of a Spectacular improvement in their bi lateral relations in the last two years.
Primakov is bringing with him Deputy Foreign Minister Albert S. Chernyshev, who is being considered by the Kremlin for appointment as Russia’s next ambassador to Now Delhi,
The Foreign Minister will introduce ‘Chernyshev to India’s top political leadership as the ambassador designate, The proposal to appoint a Deputy Foreign Minister as the next envoy is seen here as proof of Moscow’s continued commitment to upgrading relations with India.
In the Soviet days, a succession of ambassadors to India were members of the powerful Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU), Chemyshev’s nomi nation will signify a similar high Level policy interest in the Kremlin in relations with India.
The turnaround in Indo Russian relations has made both sides confident enough to take a fresh look at President Boris Yeltsin’s proposal for trilateral cooperation among India, China and Russia.
Of more immediate interest to India will be a Russian endorsement of India’s bid for an Asian seat in the UN Security Council, for which election is to be held later this year. India is pitted against Japan for this seat.
Article extracted from this publication >> April 3, 1996
