MOSCOW/NEW DELHI, 14 November 2003 — Russia is prepared to join in India’s lunar space study project, the head of the Russian Space Agency said yesterday after a government meeting to discuss the 2004 federal space budget.
“India has drawn up a moon-study program, and Russia with its long-time experience is in favor of participating in it,” Yury Koptev was quoted as saying by the RIA Novosti news agency.
“Cooperation with India in this sphere would be useful and we are discussing it,” he told reporters.
Space research featured on the agenda of a three-day visit to Moscow by Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, along with several ministers and nearly 100 businessmen, which ended yesterday.
“Europe, America and China are showing a renewed interest in moon studies and we are also prepared to share our experience,” he said.
Koptev noted that Moscow’s cooperation with India in space began more than 30 years ago.
Russian carrier rockets have been putting Indian satellites in space, and “now India has become a self-sufficient space exploration country,” he said.
In September, the India government approved a $83 million program to send an unmanned mission to the moon by 2008.
The mission called Chandrayan-I would put a 400- kilo satellite into lunar orbit within the next five years using an Indian-made polar satellite launch vehicle.
The satellite will probe the physical characteristics of the lunar surface, officials in New Delhi said.
The first Indian in space, Rakesh Sharma, was sent aloft as part of a Soviet mission.
Diplomatically, the week has been packed with crucial developments in India’s ties with several nations.
Vajpayee?s three-day Syria visit, beginning today, is primarily directed at emphasizing India’s concern for maintaining friendly ties with the Arab world. The visit holds significance in the context of United States accusing Syria of supporting rebels in Iraq and furthering of ties between India and Israel. Besides, Syria has earlier supported India’s efforts to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council. It has also played a moderating role in discussions on Kashmir-issue at the Organization of Islamic Conference.
The two nations are to sign several agreements, ranging from biotechnology to information technology.
The highlight of Vajpayee’s Russia visit was the signing of 10 agreements. At the signing signing ceremony in Kremlin’s Malachite Hall, Russian President Vladimur Putin said, “The unique character of our strategic relationship is developing on every front.”
While the focus of agreements was on enhancing defense cooperation, signaling their common stand against terrorism and emphasizing the need for United Nations to play a pivotal role in the multi-polar world, the two nations signed one on working on a joint satellite navigation project.
The Indian delegation was also pleased with there being no element of concern for India on Russia’s position regarding Kashmir. In their joint statement, Russia emphasized the need for Pakistan to end cross-border terrorism and dismantle all terror factories on its territories, including Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
Vajpayee also visited Tajikistan yesterday
—Additional input from Agencies
