MOSCOW(PTI): Indian Prime Minister Narasimha Raos visit for Moscow from June 29-July 2 the first since the break-up of the Soviet Union by a major Third World leader is expected to iron Out bilateral problems and boost cooperation in diverse fields The visit will give a necessary impetus to political trade economic scientific military and technical cooperation between the two countries a senior Russian foreign ministry official said adding we hope that a few stage in indo-Russian partnership will be launched.

The successful tour of the Russian deputy prime minister Yuri savory to Delhi in the first week of June has already set the tone of Raos visit and work here is proceeding al a feverish pace to complete the various documents that will be signed.

As many as 12 agreements are on the cards for signature but sources are NOW saying that only half of them will actually be ready: These include agreements on civil aviation environment science and technology tourism besides two political documents

Officials on both sides however refused to disclose the contents of the political documents only Saying that they were still under consideration and adding that the documents would be Signed at the highest level between the Russian president Boris Yeltsin and Narasimha Rao. On the political front the collapse of the Soviet Union has the downgrading of the political relationship between Russia and India because of what is widely perceived as the Russian obsession with the west.

However Russia remains firmly committed to supporting India on the Kashmir issue and is publicly less insistent on India joining the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

Besides these issues the political discussions of the prime minister are likely to include the volatile situation in Central Asia particularly in the context of developments in war-tom Tajikistan.

In addition agreements on investment protection guarantees Space and defence issues are cur gently under negotiation and highly-placed sources here said that they hoped these would be ready by the end of the month.

The agreement on investment protection for Indian businessmen in Russia is being pushed by both countries especially after various Statement in Delhi that India and Russia will soon have an agreement on avoidance of double taxation

Article extracted from this publication >> July 1, 1994