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DOCUMENT No.
3
Delhi Declaration On Further Consolidation Of Strategic Partnership Between
The Republic Of India And The Russian Federation
During the three-day official visit to India of Russian President Vladimir
Putin, he and Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee signed the Delhi
Declaration, in New Delhi, on December 4, 2002. Presented below is full text
of the Declaration
New Delhi-December 04, 2002
The Republic of India and the Russian Federation,
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relying on long-standing traditions of friendship and good-neighbourliness;
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recalling the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between the
Republic of India and the Russian Federation of 28 January 1993 and the
Declaration on Strategic Partnership between the Republic of India and the
Russian Federation of 5 October 2000;
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proceeding from the fact that the strategic partnership between
India and Russia is founded on the complementarity of national interests and
geopolitical priorities of the two countries;
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determined to elevate their strategic partnership to an even
higher and qualitatively new level in both bilateral and international arenas;
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recognizing respect for national sovereignty, territorial
integrity, plurality, diversity and tolerance as the cornerstone of a stable
and enduring multi-polar world; - recognizing also their unique role and
responsibility as multi-ethnic and pluralistic States in contributing to a
stable world order, as envisaged in the United Nations Millennium Declaration
of 8 September 2000 and the Moscow Declaration by the Republic of India and
the Russian Federation of 30 June 1994 on the Protection of Interests of
Pluralistic States, and in contributing to peace, stability and prosperity in
Asia and all over the world; - determined to counter new challenges and
threats to security - primarily international terrorism - through mechanisms
of bilateral and multilateral cooperation; hereby declare:
Our strategic partnership provides a solid
framework for long-term and all-round development of relations. Mutual
security, development and prosperity of our peoples are core objectives of
this partnership. It also contributes to countering global challenges and
threats and promoting strategic stability at the international level.
The established practice of holding annual meetings
at summit level as well as at Ministerial and working levels, and exchanges
between Parliamentary, judicial and other constitutional bodies would be
further intensified. There would be particular emphasis on deepening the
economic content of bilateral relations. People to people contacts would be
strengthened through an expanding network of ties between the two societies.
Internationally accepted standards of democracy and the rule of law, as
enshrined in our respective Constitutions, are basic components of our
political systems. They are reliable guarantees for a pluralistic political,
social and economic framework and for the promotion and protection of the
aspirations of our peoples for human rights, life with dignity, and freedom
from want and fear. These are standards which shall also guide our relations
with other countries. As large multiethnic and pluralistic states, we are
convinced of our special responsibility to combat and bring to an end
challenges posed to our unique attributes, including our territorial
integrity, by forces of terrorism, extremism and separatism. We reiterate our
support for each other’s territorial integrity and respect for each other’s
sovereignty, enshrined in our respective Constitutions. Neither side shall
take any actions which might threaten or impair the security of the other.
Both sides shall be guided by this principle in determining their security and
defence policies as well as in military technical cooperation with third
countries.
Bilateral cooperation as well as cooperation with
other countries would be further enhanced to meet the various challenges of
globalization, in particular the mitigation of its negative manifestations.
Globalization and national identity represent complementary components of
world order. Recognition of and respect for diversity is a necessary
precondition for human progress, and an essential component of the Dialogue
between Civilizations. Enduring ties of friendship, trust and confidence and
commonality of interests confer on India and Russia a unique capability to
contribute to the evolution of a new world order, which would be stable,
secure, equitable and sustainable and will be based on the respect for the
principles of the UN Charter and international law. To fulfill this vision,
both sides would endeavour to strengthen relevant international institutions
and mechanisms. Both countries reaffirm that now more than ever before there
is a need for the international community to commit itself to the UN and
multi-lateralism. Both countries favour strengthening of UN’s central role in
promoting international security in a multi-polar world. They stand for
enhancing the efficiency of the UN and its Security Council and making them
more reflective of the contemporary geo-political and economic realities and
rendering them more representative of the interests of the vast majority of
the UN members by completing the process of rationally reforming the
Organisation based on the broadest consensus of its member-states. In this
context, Russia reaffirms its support to India as a strong and appropriate
candidate for permanent membership in an expanded United Nations Security
Council. We take note of the outcome of the World Summit on Sustainable
Development at Johannesburg and in this context, welcome the reaffirmation of
the Rio principles. Taking note of the importance attached to the issue of
climate change by both the countries, we welcome the results of the Eighth
Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change hosted by India in October-November 2002 and the initiative of the
President of the Russian Federation to convene in Moscow in Autumn 2003 the
World Conference on Climate Change.
Both the countries reiterate their commitment to
work towards a new cooperative security order that recognizes the legitimate
security interests of all countries and promotes global peace and stability at
lower levels of armaments, and strengthens non-proliferation and disarmament
goals. India and Russia are convinced that the promotion of the disarmament
process, including reduction and eventual elimination of nuclear weapons, is
one of the most important components of security both in Asia and in the world
at large. We call for early start of multilateral talks aimed at preparing a
comprehensive arrangement on non-deployment of weapons in outer space, non-use
or threat of use of force in respect of space based objects and preserving the
use of space for full range of cooperative, peaceful and developmental
activities.
Situation in our common neighborhood - Afghanistan
and Central Asia – is of vital security interest to both the countries We feel
that there is a need to continuously assess the evolving Afghan situation and
intend to continue and expand the close cooperation on Afghanistan.
We welcome the successful implementation of the
Bonn Agreement and extend full support to the Transitional Administration,
aimed at promoting national reconciliation, reconstruction of Afghan economy
and rebuilding the Afghan institutions, including indigenous security
structures, which are important for countering and defeating internal and
external threats to Afghanistan’s security. India and Russia agree to
cooperate closely in the reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan and agreed that
these should be driven by Afghan priorities. We underline the need for the
United Nations and the international community to remain engaged for ensuring
the revival of Afghanistan as a sovereign and independent state, free from
terrorism, drugs and external interference. Both sides have a vital interest
in maintaining security, stability and a secular order in the Central Asian
region.
We call for containment of the spiral of violence
in the Middle East and resumption, in good faith, of the negotiations towards
establishment of a just and durable peace on the basis of UN Security Council
Resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973) and 1397(2002).
Both the countries support the continuation of
political and diplomatic efforts to fully implement all the United Nations
Security Council Resolutions on Iraq.
India and Russia have been victims of terrorism
and, as democratic and open societies, have been vulnerable to the threats
posed by globalization of terror, including new manifestations of linkage
between terrorism and weapons of mass destruction. Terrorism constitutes a
gross violation of human rights, particularly the most fundamental right- the
right to life – and is a crime against humanity. India and Russia firmly
condemn all acts of terrorism wherever they may occur and whatever may be
their motivation. Terrorism cannot be justified on any grounds and must be
condemned unambiguously wherever it exists. Both the countries strongly
condemn those who support terrorism or finance, train, harbour or support
terrorists. States that aid abet or shelter terrorists are as guilty of the
acts of terrorism as their perpetrators.
We are fully determined to strengthen our
cooperation in the fight against terrorism, separatism and extremism, and the
support these phenomena receive from organized crime and illicit arms and
drugs trafficking. Both the countries regard these as global threats, which
can be effectively countered only through collective, comprehensive,
determined and sustained efforts of the international community. The fight
against terrorism must not admit of any double standards and should also
target the financial and other sources of support to terrorism. Both the
countries reaffirm the relevance of the Moscow Declaration by the Republic of
India and the Russian Federation on International Terrorism of 6 November
2001. In this regard, they also stress the paramount importance of strict
implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions on the fight against
terrorism, in particular Resolution 1373, and universal antiterrorist
conventions which create the basic framework for national, regional and
international obligations and cooperation of the international community in
combating terrorism, in accordance with the UN Charter. India and Russia
remain fully committed to implement this Resolution and call for an early
agreement on, and entry into force of, the Comprehensive Convention on
International Terrorism and the Convention for the Suppression of Acts of
Nuclear Terrorism.
As victims of terrorism having its roots in our
common neighborhood, we have a particular interest in putting an end to this
common threat through preventive and deterrent measures nationally and
bilaterally. The two countries agree to enhance bilateral cooperation in order
to combat terrorism, including in the context of the cooperation under the
aegis of the Joint Working Group on Afghanistan and the Group on terrorism set
up by the National Security Council of India and the Security Council of the
Russian Federation. The agreement to set up an Indio-Russian Joint Working
Group on Counter-terrorism will further strengthen our cooperation in this
sphere. Both sides recognize that factors influencing global energy production
and supplies constituted an element of vital national interest and would be
the subject of regular bilateral discussions through relevant mechanisms.
India and Russia would strengthen cooperation in all areas of the energy
sector taking into account the needs of sustainable development and
environmental protection.
The Republic of India and the Russian Federation
are convinced that this Declaration will widen and strengthen the framework of
the existing cooperation in different areas and will contribute to
consolidation of our strategic partnership.
Prime
Minister of the Republic of India
President
of the Russian Federation
December
04, 2002
Source:
Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, New Delhi, December 4,
20002.
<http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/india/document/papers/indo-Russia/Delhi_Declaration.htm>
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