Dec. 21: In addition to supporting India’s quest for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council, Russia will push for and support India’s membership of regional security and cooperation organisations in Eurasia and the Asia-Pacific, such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).
India’s membership would significantly increase the SCO’s political weight, the joint statement issued towards the end of the visiting Russian President, Mr Dmitry Medvedev’s talks with the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, said.
The SCO comprises Russia, China and four Central Asian countries of Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. India, Iran, Mongolia and Pakistan are observers. Russia supports India’s application to join the APEC and intends to work in this direction when the moratorium on the new membership is lifted.
Dr Singh and Mr Medvedev agreed that “it was important for India and Russia to work towards the creation of a transparent, open, inclusive and balanced security and cooperation architecture in the Asia Pacific region”.
Mr Medvedev also expressed readiness “to assist and promote a discussion and positive decision” on India’s full membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).
Welcoming India’s determination to actively contribute to international efforts aimed at strengthening nuclear non-proliferation regime, the Russian side also took into consideration India’s interest in full membership in Missile Technology Control Regime and the Wassenaar Arrangement, which is a multilateral export control regime for conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies.