Diplomatist Magazine Diplomatist October 2019

military and technical cooperation historically constitute one of the pillars of the strategic partnership between the two countries. This is a two-way movement based on an extraordinary mutual interest proceeding from the fact that the Indian Army is equipped with about 70 percent of the hardware provided by the Soviet Union and Russia. Currently, we are working in the framework of the 2011-2020 Long-Term Program for Military and Technical Cooperation and further expansion of interaction in this area, including by joint development and production of military equipment, components and spare parts, improving after- sales service system. By the way, the relevant Inter-Governmental Agreement was signed in Vladivostok, which is a considerable step ahead. The overall amount of deals which we are implemented at the moment exceed USD 14.5 bn including sophisticated projects such as S-400 air defence systems’ supplies, a joint production of Ka-226 multipurpose helicopters and Kalashnikovs machine guns in India. Both Sides are committed to the timely realization of the contracts. We note growing mutual interest in further developing cooperation on military aﬀ airs. Our countries enjoy the largest in scale annual bilateral exercises “Indra” with combined participation of all three – Army, Navy and Air – services. Regular dialogue between Ministers of Defence and NSAs along with other concerned agencies and state- owned-corporations is also a sustained practice. As far as the energy is concerned, how is cooperation between Russia and India in the nuclear fi eld being developed? Nuclear power cooperation is another area, which we can be proud of. Russia as of now is the only foreign country being in practical terms involved in the construction of nuclear reactors in India. The ﬂ agship project – the Russian-designed Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant based in Tamil Nadu, which is comprising of six blocks. The ﬁ rst two units are already operational generating low-cost power for local customers. The third and fourth ones are under construction, with the supply of their critical equipment being underway. Necessary preparations to start works related to units 5 and 6 are also already there. This project represents a unique and solid contribution to the Indian carbon-free energy security, employment 36 • Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Diplomatist • Vol 7 • Issue 10 • October 2019, Noida and education of Indian specialists in many sophisticated areas. Importantly, there is also a great scope for localization and joint production as well as cooperation in third countries. Could you please highlight some of the efforts that the government of Russia is currently undertaking to strengthen its ties in regard to cultural diplomacy? Our mutual historical cultural and civilizational aﬃ nity is yet another area of the Russian-Indian traditional engagement. Currently, both sides are committed to the implementation of the bilateral Cultural Exchange Program, which directly helps bring the peoples of the two countries together. We continue the successful practice of holding reciprocal festivals of the Russian culture in India and of the Indian culture in Russia, as well as of Russian ﬁ lm festivals in India and of Indian ﬁ lm festivals in Russia. Russia is invited to be the Partner Country in the 50th International Film Festival to be held in Goa on November 20-28, 2019. At the Summit in Vladivostok, the Leaders agreed that there is a need for geographical expansion of cultural exchanges and greater involvement of the youth and folk art groups and to further promote the Russian language in India and Hindi in Russia comprehensively, including by developing contacts between relevant educational institutions. Russia-India Strategic Partnership was elevated to the level of a “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership” in December 2010. Would you please enlighten us about the signifi cance of this special relationship? The Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia is a testimony of the advanced level of the bilateral relations. It is unique, conﬁ ding and mutually beneﬁ cial by nature, encompassing all possible areas of cooperation. India- Russia ties have successfully coped with the turbulent realities of the contemporary world. They have never been and will not be susceptible to outside inﬂ uence. The development of the entire gamut of India-Russia relations is a foreign policy priority for both countries. That explains why our Leaders, who also enjoy strong personal chemistry, meet each other several times per year – for bilateral summits as well as for engagements on the sidelines of major international events such as G20, BRICS, SCO, EAS, etc. 

Diplomatist Magazine Diplomatist October 2019 | Page 36