New Delhi, May 4
Indicating the convergence of views on international security issues, including on the US proposal of National Missile Defence, India and Russia today expressed opposition to any attempt to unilaterally change or amend the 1972 Anti-Ballastic Missile Treaty (ABM) saying that it can only be done through mutually agreed discussions.

Addressing a joint press conference here after over 90 minutes delegation-level Indo-Russian talks, External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh along with visiting Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said: “We believe that between mutually agreed discussions and mutually agreed destruction, the former is precious”.

In reply to a question on US President George Bush’s proposal, Mr Ivanov said: “Evem though it is a bilateral treaty, it is superstructured with a variety of security related issues. That is why it should not be abrogated or amended unilaterally.”

Mr Jaswant Singh expressed a note of welcome to the US Administration's decision to enter into a constructive dialogue with the parties concerned.

Mr Bush, while announcing the new US defence system on May 1 at the National Defence University in Washington, had virtually rejected the guiding principles like the ABM Treaty that governed nuclear balance between the two super powers.

Mr Ivanov also declared Russia’s readiness for substantial reduction in its nuclear warheads to match the US offer.

The Russian Foreign Minister, who stressed more than once his country’s willingness to have a dialogue with the USA on the emerging needs of international security, said that Russia also had proposals on global control system on missiles.

Mr Ivanov, however, said: “We will not destroy the ABM Treaty without a guarantee that other proposals may work better” and stressed that “we are ready to listen to the USA and we are ready to tell them about our proposals and our vision” of the international security system.

Commenting on the Mr Bush’s proposal, Mr Ivanov said it was not “filled with specific content” and pointed out that the USA intends to build a scheme of Global Missile Defence.

The visiting minister said the USA is sending its experts for discussions on this issue and Russia’s position would only be known after that.

The two ministers ruled out formation of any India-China-Russia axis. “We are against creating any new power blocks”, Mr Singh said and Mr Ivanov added saying that the three countries were great powers and play a key role in building a just and fairer world order.

Earlier important issues of international terrorism and international security including the proposed National Missile Defence plan of the USA figured prominently during the 45-minute long discussions between Prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and visiting Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov held today.

Mr Vajpayee, who accepted an invitation to visit Russia in early November this year, and Mr Ivanov agreed that issues of international security like the latest proposal of US President George W. Bush on proposed NMD system “must be addressed through a coordinated and consultative approach through dialogue between the countries concerned”.

Briefing newspersons about the meeting, a spokesman for the Ministry of External Affairs said in the context of the international security India and Russia would consult each other on a regular basis.

In an obvious reference to 1972 ABM Treaty between Russia and the USA, both sides also reiterated that bilateral agreements between countries must be respected and any modification of such agreements should be through mutual consultations and understanding, the spokesman said adding that talks took place in warm and cordial atmosphere and in a spirit of deep goodwill characteristic of close and time-tested relationship between India and Russia.

The two leaders discussed the issue of international terrorism and regional issues, including Afghanistan, and it was noted that bilateral cooperation in this field, was proceeding well. The activities of the bilateral Joint working group on Afghanistan set up during the visit of the Russian President was commended by the two leaders, the spokesman said.