Putin was also due to hold talks Thursday with President Pranab Mukherjee and opposition leader Sonia Gandhi.
Russia is facing stiff Western economic sanctions for its role in the Ukraine crisis, and analysts say the Putin mission is aimed at developing new energy markets to help offset the impact of those sanctions.
Russian and Indian officials said the meetings would likely focus on agreements for military cooperation, space exploration and the construction of new nuclear power plants.
At least 15 trade pacts are set to be signed, as energy-starved India -- the world's third largest energy importer -- continues to push for greater involvement in natural gas and oil exploration inside Russia.
Crimean leader visits
The leader of Crimea, the former Ukrainian territory annexed by Russia, arrived for unofficial talks in New Delhi on Thursday.
Sergey Aksyonov met a Mumbai businessman to discuss boosting trade with the Black Sea region. India does not support Western sanctions against Russia, but the meeting may prove an irritant before President Barack Obama visits India in January.
Russian officials declined to comment, but a senior diplomat arrived with Aksyonov at an upscale New Delhi hotel for the meeting to sign a memorandum with a business group called the Indian-Crimean Partnership.
- Gul Kripalani, a seafood merchant who chairs the group, told Reuters before the meeting that it was unofficial, but added that Aksyonov “happened to be on the flight with His Excellency President Putin.”
- A spokesman for India's Ministry of External Affairs said he was not officially aware of the Crimean visit and that Aksyonov was not a member of Putin's delegation.
- India has made it clear that it would not support Western sanctions against Russia imposed over the annexation of Crimea in February and the Kremlin's support for an armed uprising by pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine.
http://www.voanews.com/content/reu-crimean-leader-in-new-delhi-during-putin-visit/2554591.html
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Russia’s relations with India on steady track in all spheres — Putin...
ReplyDeleteRelations between Russia and India develop steadily, embracing all sectors of cooperation, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.
“Relations between our countries are gradually developing in all sectors,” Putin said during his meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.
The Russian president, who arrived in India on Thursday morning for an official visit, said he expected a significant number of bilateral documents to be signed between the governments of Russia and India as a result of his meeting, which would boost relations between Moscow and New Delhi.
Putin, accompanied by a delegation of senior Russian government officials, also said that “the Russian authorities will stick by the line which was shaped over many decades,” in its relations with India.
Indian Prime Minister Modi said Russia “has been always close friend of India and a privileged global strategic partner.” ......................http://itar-tass.com/en/russia/766368
11/12/14
Putin provoziert: Indien-Auftritt mit Krim -"Premier"...
ReplyDeleteProgrammierte Irritation: Sergej Aksjonow – genannt "Kobold" - war Teil der offiziellen Putin-Delegation.
Er ist der Kreml-Mann auf der Krim: Sergej Aksjonow, bis zur umstrittenen Annexion im Frühling dieses Jahres Hinterbänkler im Regionalparlament auf der Halbinsel, darf nun sogar den russischen Präsidenten selbst auf dessen Reisen begleiten – und zwar in ganz offizieller Funktion. Aksjonow und Putin waren am Donnerstag in Neu-Delhi zu Gast, um ihre Kooperation mit der indischen Regierung zu vertiefen. Dort sucht man nach Kompensation für die fehlenden Wirtschaftsleistungen aus dem Westen (mehr dazu hier).
Der 41-Jährige, der bis zum Umsturz einer von drei Abgeordneten der Russland-treuen Partei „Russische Einheit“ auf der Krim war, durfte sogar ein offizielles Papier mitunterzeichnen - eine Absichtserklärung für eine engere Zusammenarbeit zwischen der Halbinsel und Neu-Delhi in den Feldern Pharmazie, Landwirtschaft und Tourismus......................http://kurier.at/politik/ausland/putin-provoziert-indien-auftritt-mit-krim-premier/102.076.104
11/12/14
Ukrainian president slams India over Crimean leader visit...
ReplyDelete(Reuters) - Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko lashed out at India on Friday over a visit by the leader of Crimea, the former Ukrainian territory annexed by Russia, who accompanied President Vladimir Putin's annual summit delegation this week.
India does not back Western sanctions against Russia, and the unofficial trip by Sergey Aksyonov could spoil the mood before Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosts U.S. President Barack Obama for India's Republic Day festivities in January.
Poroshenko, addressing the Lowy Institute think tank in Sydney, said India was placing more importance on "money" than "values" by welcoming Aksyanov, and it was not standing with "civilization" against Russian aggression..............http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/12/12/us-india-russia-crimea-idUSKBN0JP1AM20141212?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews