The Hindu : Front Page : Russia, India, China step up solidarity

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Friday, May 16, 2008
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Russia, India, China step up solidarity

Vladimir Radyuhin

They have coordinated positions on Kosovo, Iran, Afghanistan

YEKATERINBURG (Russia): Russia, India and China displayed enhanced solidarity on a range of key international issues at their meeting here on Thursday in a sign that their trilateral dialogue may be acquiring a strategic dimension.

In a joint communiqué, adopted at their eighth meeting, the Foreign Ministers of the countries “reaffirmed the commonality” in their views on the global situation and, for the first time, set out coordinated positions on Kosovo, Iran, Afghanistan and the Asia-Pacific region, as India displayed a greater readiness to go along with its partners in the triangle on these issues.

On Kosovo, India for the first time joined Russia and China in stating categorically in the RIC communiqué that “the unilateral declaration of independence of Kosovo is contrary to the U.N. Security Council Resolution 1244,” and calling for settling the issue “in accordance with norms of international law” and on the basis of “an agreement” and “through negotiations” between Belgrade and Pristina.

Earlier India only said it “takes note” of the declaration of independence of Kosovo and was “studying the evolving situation.”

On Iran’s nuclear programme, RIC called for “a political and diplomatic settlement” of the problem “through negotiations.”

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee went even further in his speech at the meeting, saying India supported Tehran’s right to peaceful uses of nuclear energy provided it fulfilled its international obligations, that all outstanding issues should be resolved through the International Atomic Energy Agency and that “confrontation and destabilisation” in the region had adverse effects on the situation.

Pat for Pranab

At a bilateral meeting with Mr. Mukherjee later, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov congratulated him “on his positive role” at the RIC meeting.

For the first time in the RIC format, Russia and China welcomed “India’s aspirations for playing an enhanced role” as an observer in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

This also indicated New Delhi’s revived interest in the regional security body, which unites Russia, China and four Central Asian states.

The RIC troika reaffirmed a “common desire to expand multilateral cooperation with the Central Asian states” and agreed to identify “various forms of trilateral interaction” in the region.

It vowed to “actively deepen dialogue and interaction between the three countries.” Mr. Mukherjee showed remarkable enthusiasm for the troika dialogue.

‘Unique mechanism’

Describing the RIC format as a “unique mechanism” for strengthening cooperation, he said the troika sent a message to the world that the three leading economies having common views on regional and global issues was of the “utmost importance and has its impact on the overall international situation.”

Mr. Mukherjee praised the troika for extending its practical cooperation to trade, technology, disaster management, relief, health and medicine, which would be “highly beneficial to large chunks of our populations.”

Russia and China sided with India in calling for “expeditious finalisation of a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism” submitted at the U.N. by New Delhi.

The three ministers “reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening cooperation among their countries to combat terrorism.”

It was agreed that India would host the next stand-alone meeting of RIC.

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