Russia does not see shift in India's foreign policy

Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 26, 2008: Russian Ambassador to India Vyacheslav Trubnikov said that he does not feel there is any shift in India's foreign policy and the shift has instead come from West. "In our view, the West used to ignore India in the international arena. They have shifted their stand. India knows who their friends are and who are their trusted comrades," he said a day after inaugurating the honorary consulate of Russia here.

Trubnikov, who visited Koodamkulam nuclear plant supported by Russia, said two reactors were ready for commissioning. Four more reactors would be ready by December. A business-to-business relationship was possible now with India which had emerged as an economic power, he said."There is a necessity for country-to-country relationship for both sides," he said. Russia had decades-long relationship with Kerala even during the Soviet days, he said and recalled that he had read about the first Communist Chief Minister of Kerala E M S Namboodiripad.

The progress of the country depended on energy sources and it was essential to make use of non-traditional sources of energy, he said.

Russia could lend help to India in the field of hydro-power and tourism. The country would focus more on southern India which was one of the reasons an honorary consulate was opened in Thiruvananthapuram, he said.

The next honorary consulate would be opened in Hyderabad, he said.

(Agencie

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