Ties with India a foreign policy priority for Russia: Medvedev

Vinay Shukla

Moscow, Aug 15 (PTI) Russian President Dmitry Medvedev
Saturday lauded India's "historic successes" in socio-economic
development and said that ties with New Delhi are Moscow's
"unconditional foreign policy priority".

In his messages to Indian President Pratibha Patil and
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the 63rd Independence Day,
Medvedev reiterated Moscow's foreign policy priority of
fostering strategic partnership and friendship with New Delhi.

"In the years of independent development India has
achieved historic successes in socio-economic and
scientific-technological development and has joined the
leading states of the global community," Medvedev said.

"For Russian strategic partnership and friendly
relations with India are an unconditional foreign policy
priority," Medvedev wrote to President Pratibha Patil.

"We are waiting for your visit to our country in
September, which will, no doubt, become one of the central
events of the Year of India in Russia," Medvedev wrote to the
Indian President.

In a separate message to Singh, the Russian leader
wrote: "We in Russia share the feelings of joy and pride of
the Indian friends on the outstanding achievements of your
country in the fields of economic, social and
scientific-technical development."

He expressed hope that during Prime Minister Singh's
Moscow visit later this year, which would crown the Year of
India in Russia, the two leaders could continue their
summit-level dialogue.

In his messages to the Indian leaders Medvedev noted
that by its right India has become a key nation in the
international affairs.

In the text of his messages to Patil and Singh
released by the Kremlin, Medvedev has said that he is eagerly
awaiting their Russia visits in this year being marked as the
Year of India in that country. PTI