NEW DELHI. Feb 19 (Interfax-AVN) - U.S.-Indian co-operation will have no negative impact on Russia's relations with India, Russian Ambassador to India Alexander Kadakin said at the opening of the 2nd International Defexpo India 2002 Exhibition of Ground and Maritime Arms on Tuesday.
The ambassador said that the Russian and Indian co-operation had a role of its own. The two countries had the Strategic Partnership Declaration and Agreement on Friendship and Co- operation signed in 1993.
Kadakin added that India's military and political role in the region was on the rise, so the country is getting a prominent role in the world's politics. No wonder India's leadership seeks to improve relations with the United States, the world's leading nation. The ambassador said there was nothing strange about it, for Russia itself spared no effort to structure good relations with America.
The U.S. delegation participating in the arms exhibition for the first time is headed by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Richard Myers. This testifies to the fact that good relations with India are pretty important for Washington.
India is expected to hold a round of negotiations on procuring some U.S.-produced assets. Representatives of the Indian Defense Ministry are interested in the AN/TPJ-37 artillery reconnaissance radar station. The possibility of purchasing a batch of 200 systems is now being considered.