'Growing India-US ties will not impact Russia'

NEW DELHI: India's growing closeness to the US will not impact its traditional ties with Russia, even as Moscow would like to see New Delhi's "deeper involvement with the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)", the Russian envoy here says.

"Why should we fear close relations between New Delhi and Washington?" Ambassador Vyacheslav I. Trubnikov asked during an interview with Hardnews magazine.

"We believe these changing equations will not affect the traditional sovereignty of India in taking its foreign policy decisions," the envoy added.

Russia too had "considerably intensified" its cooperation with the US in recent years even though their positions "do not coincide in all respects", Trubnikov pointed out.

"Nevertheless, we never get obsessed with discrepancies so that they do not hinder the overall development of our ties. This evolution of Russian-American relations is a complex process that in some respects corresponds to the transformation of India-US cooperation," the ambassador stated.

He did not feel that strong India-US ties would be at the cost of India's traditional allies.

"As far as we can see, the Indian leadership is committed to multi-vector diplomacy focussed on strengthening relations with traditional partners as well as promoting new bilateral and multilateral engagements," Trubnikov maintained.

Russia's interaction with India had recently witnessed "remarkable expansion" with President Vladimir Putin's visit to New Delhi last January giving a "major impetus" to such thrust areas as military and technical cooperation, energy and space, the envoy pointed out.

"Both sides are set to carry forward their joint initiatives in civil nuclear energy, particularly by constructing four additional blocks at Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project and new reactors at other sites in India," he added.

Trubnikov also lauded India's "extremely proactive role facilitating peace and progress" in its immediate and extended neighbourhood.

"India is the biggest country in South Asia with huge economic, political and military potential," he said, adding: "Guided by its national interests, it pursues a coherent and balanced regional policy."

Major world powers, including Russia and the US, were taking particular note of New Delhi's approaches to key issues on the regional agenda.

"We highly appreciate the Indian efforts to strengthen stability and rebuild the economy of Afghanistan. We fully support the ongoing convergence between India and China and its progressing dialogue with Pakistan and Iran.

"Moscow also welcomes the positive shifts in India's relations with Bangladesh. We are very optimistic about New Delhi's current focus on creating goodwill and eliminating the existing 'irritants' in regional affairs.

"The only alternative scenario is deterioration of bilateral ties, confrontation, and creation of dividing lines in Asia which is against the interests of the whole world community.

"I believe it is with this understanding in mind that New Delhi has assumed an extremely proactive role facilitating peace and progress in the region," Trubnikov maintained.

In this context, he hoped for India's greater interaction with the SCO, saying: "New Delhi's willingness to be an influential player in regional integration processes is a very encouraging sign.

"We are particularly pleased to see its growing interest in the work of the SCO. I must point out that the Indian delegation always participates in SCO meetings in a very active and constructive manner.

"At the same time we will certainly be extremely glad to welcome the head of the Indian government at the SCO Summit. It would be an important signal to the member-states that India is interested in deeper involvement in the activities of this organisation," Trubnikov pointed out.

According to the envoy, Russia "appreciates" that New Delhi "is keen to join as soon as possible in the practical cooperation within the SCO.

"India, like other states of this forum wants to see the Central Asian region stable, devoid of extremism, terrorism and drug trafficking. There are also promising vistas for joint economic, infrastructural, humanitarian projects in the framework of the SCO which could change the face of this part of the world turning it into the area of prosperity and an all-round development.

"Naturally, we support India's joining concrete projects in this organisation," the envoy stated.

He also clarified that SCO was not a military block nor were its activities directed against any third country.

"It is pursuing economic, infrastructural and trade goals, as well as promoting regional stability and security, including joint efforts to counter terrorist and extremist threats," Trubnikov maintained.

The envoy was also enthusiastic about the now virtually defunct India-US civilian nuclear deal and hoped the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) would grant a waiver to enable the resumption of nuclear commerce with India after a 30-year hiatus.

Both these issues have effectively been put on the backburner due to opposition from the Left parties that support Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government.