Moscow: Calling Defence cooperation a "key
pillar" in Indo-Russian relations, Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh today voiced confidence that the two countries will
find "practical solutions" to the problems dogging the Admiral
Gorshkov aircraft carrier deal.
When asked by the Russian media for his comments to the
delays in delivering Gorshkov aircraft carrier to India, Singh
said, "I am confident that we can find practical solutions to
the problems that have arisen."
Singh's comments came ahead of his three-day official
visit to Russia beginning Sunday.
The prime minister also said that cooperation in the
field of nuclear energy has been a "very important pillar" of
the bilateral cooperation and that India has identified new
sites for collaboration in nuclear power projects.
Russia is already building two nuclear power units in
Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu and is to build four more reactors
there. India has identified an additional site at Haripur in
West Bengal for Russia to build another nuclear plant.
Navy chief Admiral Nirmal Verma on Wednesday said the
protracted price renegotiations for the Admiral Gorshkov is in
final stages.
But he refused to set a deadline for clinching the deal,
the talks for which have been going on for three years now.
"I am not inclined to hazard a guess on the time frame.
We are in the final stages. Fourth round of talks on fresh
price is going on at present to fix the tasks needed on
Gorshkov and the costs," Verma said when asked if the
negotiations would be over before Singh's visit to Russia.
PTI
First Published: Friday, December 04, 2009, 22:26