New Delhi, India Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi is likely to visit Moscow after he tours the United States in June, the Indian Express newspaper reported today.
The independent daily said Gandhi planned to visit the two superpowers to ‘‘dispel the impression that the new government has chosen to tilt one way, or the other.”
The Indian government and the Soviet Embassy here declined to comment on the front page report by the newspapers noted columnist H. K. Dua.
The report said an announcement for Gandhi’s visits to Washington and Moscow would be made simultaneously as soon as details for the trips are worked out.
Diplomatic sources reported Friday that the prime minister planned to visit the United States and France in June to open Indian festivals and meet President Reagan and President Francois Mitterrand.
Gandhi received several invitations for state visits from foreign dignitaries attending the funeral of his slain mother Indira Gandhi in November.
They included U.S. Secretary of State George P. Shultz and Soviet Deputy Premier Nicholas Tikhanov. Diplomatic sources said Gandhi told both men he would be interested in visiting their countries.
Gandhi’s government, formed Dec. 31 after his Congress Party won a landslide election victory, is expected to continue India’s policies of nonalignment and warm ties with the Soviet Union, which is India’s major arms supplier, while exploring better relations with Western countries.
Article extracted from this publication >> January 11 1985
