NEW DELHI: Russian President Boris Yeltsin has asserted that the “truth” was on India’s side on the Kashmir issue, ruled out any military or technical aid to Pakistan and disclosed that Moscow was “negotiating” the sale of fighter trainer aircraft to New Delhi.
Offering support to any move to induct India into the UN Security Council as a permanent member, Yeltsin said the US proposal to bring Germany and Japan to the Security Council needed a closer look.
Addressing a joint press conference with Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao, at the conclusion of his three-day visit, Yeltsin while extending unequivocal support to India on Kashmir in international for a, said :”We want to have some relations with Pakistan.”
“We don’t want to see a rupture in our relations with Pakistan,” he said. Addressing MPs and eminent Citizens in the central hall of Parliament, the Russian President said:” “With regard to military and technical aspects we are not prepared to extend any aid to Pakistan.” His first visit to India resulted in ending the 15yearold impasse in the rupee rouble exchange rate and the two countries signing 10 agreements, including a treaty of friendship and cooperation and be on normalizing the defense supplies to India.
Reiterating that his country would not renege on its commitment to supply cryogenic engines and the related space technology to India notwithstanding the U.S. pressure, Yelisin, however, indicated that the matter would figure during his forthcoming meeting with President Bill Clinton in a third country.
“We will discuss it, but Russia will not backtrack on it,” he said. Asked about the impact of the US sanctions on India, Yeltsin said this would depend on the “commonsense and the sensibility” of the U.S.
Yelisin parried a question based on newspaper report claiming that the Russian intelligence believed that both India and Pakistan possessed nuclear weapons.
“I am not familiar with any Statement to that effect coming from the Russian intelligence service. If that were so, we would have had some advance report,” the Russian President said. Rather than getting embroiled into a question whether Russia would support India or Pakistan in the event of a conflict, Yeltsin preferred to speak in terms of seeking solutions or problems.
He suggested the setting up of a conflict resolution center for Asia, possibly in India, on the pattern of one existing in Vienna.
Russia, Yeltsin said, would now shift its foreign policy focus from the West to Asia and in this connection recalled his recent visits to China and South Korea.
Earlier, Yeltsin had stated that the 1971 Indo Soviet treaty had strategic security overtones and was directed against a third country.
Under the new treaty, he added, Indo Russian bilateral relations were not against a third country but Russia would continue to supply military spares to India to enable to it to protect its sovereignty.
In his opening remarks, Yeltsin stated that Russia wanted to have an Asian policy and was shifting its focus from the west.
Being a Euro Asian power, Russia desired to consciously strike a balance between East and West, he added.
Asked whether Russia would work for getting a permanent scat for India in the UN Security Council as he had favored Germany and Japan becoming its members, Yeltsin first said it was a difficult question to answer and the principles behind the formation of the Security Council would have to be examined. He said if there was a discussion on the subject, Russia would reply with a “yes vote.”
The Russian President said he could not have a purposeful Asian policy without India because of its prestige and great power potential.
Yeltsin said his visit to India had put an end to the three-year pause in Indo Russian relations which were now entering a new phase marked by dynamism. The two countries were close to each other as never before, he added.
The new relationship would have a sound basis of political and economic interests and would be devoid of political hypocrisy, Yeltsin said.
Referring to wade relation between India and Russia, Yeltsin said the trade was poised to increase from $1.5 billion last year to three to 3,5 billion dollars, He said the two countries have enormous natural resources which could be utilized for mutual benefit.
India enjoys a special place in “our ties,” Yeltsin said and added that India had made great strides in science and technology.
In his opening remarks, the Prime Minister said Yeltsin’s visit was too short.
He described the Russian President’s visit as significant and meaningful; the talks covered a wide range of issues between the two countries.
Rao said the discussion with Yeltsin was frank and fruitful. It laid durable foundation of ties in the economic and defense spheres, he said and added that there was convergence of views of a number of issues.
Article extracted from this publication >> February 5, 1993
