Moscow
1 January 2006
Russia has said it was in favour of India getting "full membership" of
the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation as it would not only strengthen the multifaceted
bilateral cooperation between the two countries but also lead to stability and security in
Asia.
"As Russia focusses on new organisations like the SCO, we will be happy to see India
as a full partner [of the regional bloc]," a top Russian official told this newspaper in
Moscow.
"Our primary aim is not to spoil relations with India," the official observed and suggested
that Moscow had certain "reservations" over the inclusion of certain other countries as
full members of the SCO.
It was also suggested that Moscow did not want to forge a military cooperation with
certain countries that could cause a strain on the Indo-Russian ties. "The India-Russia
relations have convincingly proved their viability and [their] strategic partnership serves
long-term national interests of both countries and contributes to the promotion of
multifaceted bilateral cooperation and to stability and security in Asia and in the world at
large," the official said.
The military establishment, in turn, observed that the Indo-Russian military cooperation
was not aimed against third countries. Sources said they were all for steps that would
"lower the level of confrontation" in the sub-continent.
On sharing of military base in Tajikistan, the sources said, "[Russia and India] have
mutual understanding." India has undertaken repair works at the Aini air base. To
strengthen the bilateral cooperation, they said the base could be used for stationing
aircraft and training pilots.
Reminding the United States of its promise of pulling out its troops from Central Asia, the
sources said, "[We] hope they keep their promise of leaving after the fight against
terrorism ends in Afghanistan."
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