Russian Presidential Election: Putin Wins Third Term

Russians voted on March 4 in presidential polls set to return strongman Vladimir Putin to the Kremlin for an unprecedented third term, as he faced public wrath over allegations of rigging in December’s parliamentary elections which was won by his United Russia party, even as Opposition leaders and Russian observers say they are seeing widespread violations in the elections.
Voters turned out at 90,000 polling stations across Russia spread over 21 hours for the marathon electoral process, that is being monitored through election observers and over 100,000 webcams.
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has won Russia's presidential election. The present vote saw Putin, hoping to become president for a third time after swapping role as prime minister with his close aide Dmitry Medvedev.
Reports of Large-Scale Violations
The Central Election Commission said, the 59-year-old ex-KGB spy Putin has got 62 per cent of the 85 per cent votes counted. Exit polls conducted by two leading pollsters gave Putin 58-59 per cent. Putin needed to win more than 50 per cent to avoid a runoff.
Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov came second with over 17 per cent of the votes. The other three candidates polled less than 10 per cent each.
The election was marred by reports of large-scale violations. Opposition activists and observers have reported thousands of violations that involved multiple voting, known here as “carousels” — voting without proper documents and non-admission of monitors to polling stations.
Other Candidates
Putin's main challenger was considered to be Communist Gennady Zyuganov, who was running for a fourth time. The other candidates were ultra-nationalist Vladimir Zhirinovsky, tycoon Mikhail Prokhorov, who was standing as an independent, and former Upper House speaker Sergey Mironov, from the centre-left A Just Russia party.
Putin was Russia's president from 2000 to 2008, but was barred by the constitution from standing for a third consecutive term. He faces four challengers, three of whom he has defeated in previous elections.

Referendum in Syria on New Constitution

Syrians have voted on a new draft constitution aimed at quelling the country’s uprising by ending the ruling Baath Party’s five-decade domination of power, but the Opposition announced a boycott and clashes were reported across the country. The move could keep President Bashar al-Assad in power until 2028. The result is viewed as a foregone conclusion.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin issued a strong warning to the West against military intervention in Syria, its longtime ally, but US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made clear there was no enthusiasm in Washington for war.
The International Red Cross and Syrian Arab Red Crescent were still negotiating with Syrian authorities and the opposition in an effort to get aid into strife-torn areas of the embattled city of Homs, where conditions were said to be grim.
The country has 14.6 million eligible voters who were asked to cast ballots on whether they approve or reject the recently drafted constitution in more than 14,000 polling stations around the country.
In regions like the restive central city of Homs, where shelling by government forces has left hundreds dead, or the northwestern province of Idlib and the southern region of Daraa where rebels clash frequently with the security forces, turnout is likely to be minimal.
Antigovernment Protests
More than 5000 people have been killed in Syria's violent crackdown against protesters, the UN rights chief has told the Security Council, recommending that the regime of President Al-Assad be referred to the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity.
Foreign journalists were taken by the Information Ministry to the Damascus neighborhood of Rukneddine and the Damascus suburb of Barzeh that witnessed antigovernment protests in the past months. Few voters were at the polling stations in either area.
Earlier this month, President Al-Assad called for a referendum on the new constitution — which allows for at least a theoretical opening of the country’s political system — as an effort to placate critics and end the 11-month uprising against his rule.
Creating Multiparty System
The new charter would create a multiparty system in Syria, which has been ruled by the Arab Socialist Baath Party since a 1963 coup. It also states that the president, who has been a member of the Assad family since 1970, can only be in office for a maximum of two seven-year terms.
Such changes were unthinkable a year ago, but after the uprising began in March and Assad’s crackdown that killed thousands of people, the vast majority of opposition groups say they accept nothing less than Assad abandoning power.
The two main umbrella opposition groups, the Syrian National Council and the National Coordination Body for Democratic Change in Syria, have called for a boycott. Some groups have also called for a general strike to coincide with the referendum.
In the capital Damascus, where Assad retains support among religious minorities and the business class, many said they were eager to vote.
Party Pluralism
According to a civil servant, “This is a good constitution. It calls for party pluralism and the president can only hold the post for two terms. These did not exist in the past.”
In Barzeh, which recently witnessed intense antigovernment protests, about 20 percent of the shops were closed, apparently in compliance with the calls for a strike. Turnout was very low at a polling station in the area, with a person coming every few minutes to cast a ballot. In Rukneddine, turnout was also low. People cast ballots as they arrived with no need to stand in line.
UN Resolution
The UN General Assembly has already voted 137 to 12 to approve a resolution calling for an immediate halt to President Al-Assad's violent crackdown on dissent.
China, Russia and Iran were among the nations that opposed the text put forward by Egypt and other Arab states that condemned "widespread and systematic violations of human rights" in Syria.
Seventeen UN member states abstained from voting on the resolution, which came just days after Russia and China joined forces to use their veto power to derail a similar text in the UN Security Council.
The International Red Cross and Syrian Arab Red Crescent were still negotiating with Syrian authorities and the opposition in an effort to get aid into strife-torn areas of the embattled city of Homs, where conditions were said to be grim.
Assessment
The only way to resolve the situation in Syria is through a Syrian-led political process, and that means dialog. The Western nations instead switch gears and turn into regime change mode, discouraging dialog, discouraging dialogue within Syria, discouraging dialog between the Arab League and Syria. This is very dangerous.
In fact they make no secret of the fact that they want regime change. In numerous statements you can trace their policy, which cannot be conducive to a political process.
No one wants to see a repeat of Libya in Syria, or of the war in Iraq, which went against a decision by the UN Security Council. Any decision on Syria will require the support and shared responsibility of Moscow to make it legitimate. One suggestion is for Russia to guarantee the interests and security of the minorities in Syria, Lebanon and Egypt, who fear reprisals by the Sunni majority if Al-Assad government (a privileged minority) were to fall. This would be a way for Russia to take a morally correct and a politically promising stance.

India-Russia Summit: Efforts To Resolve Bilateral and International Issues

The India-Russia summit has recently been concluded in Moscow. During his discussions with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh made an emphatic point about the utility, execution and expansion of the Russia-assisted Koodankulam nuclear power project, underlines the unerring durability of the relations between the two countries. The value of the relationship for both has transcended changes of government in New Delhi and the changed character of the state from communist to capitalist in Moscow. There were contretemps in Russia when the switch-over to capitalism was in progress, but the dispelling of doubts was swift as the new masters in the Kremlin looked around their region and the globe.
India’s continued pairing with Russia on a range of issues — to do with national security on the political as well as the hardware side, science and technology, and now possibly the education sector in terms of the understanding reached at the just-ended summit — plays a role of balance at a time when India’s relations have been fruitfully advanced with the West, especially the United States. Anxieties in the minds of not a few that the United States is invading every sphere of policymaking in this country appear misplaced when the significance of the Russian connection is understood in its widest meaning. The coming into being of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India and China) bloc in international affairs in recent years further cements India-Russia relations, which are not bedeviled by irritants in the bilateral sphere.
Areas of Mutual Interest
The agreements covered all the key areas that underpin the “special and privileged” strategic partnership between the two countries — energy, defence, space, trade and investment, and working together on the international scene. While a formal agreement on Units 3 and 4 at Kudankulam nuclear power project was not signed, pending the resolution of the safety issue controversy in India, the sides moved forward with the project. They agreed on exceptional soft loan terms for the new reactors that will ease the financial burden for India at the time of a global economic slowdown. The talks in Moscow also firmed up prospects for India to expand its presence in Russian oil and gas through joint ventures with Gazprom and Novatek.
Besides the global and regional issues, India and Russia have to further expand their bilateral cooperation in different areas of mutual interest like trade and industry, defense-related matters and civilian nuclear energy.
The two countries do not have a mere buyer-seller relationship. The prime minister has to ensure that more joint ventures, particularly in the area of defense, are undertaken so that India gets cutting-edge technologies from Russia.
Defense Supplies and Technology
In the four decades since the Indo-Soviet treaty the global political, strategic and economic landscapes have changed dramatically, but the core of the bilateral relationship was (and remains) cooperation in defense supplies and technology. In the years following the treaty, Moscow became a very dependable source of defense sales and technology transfer. To be sure, there was uncertainty and disruption of supplies and spares after the implosion of the Soviet Union. But these proved manageable.
Following India’s nuclear tests of 1998 and the ensuing international censure and sanctions, New Delhi and Moscow began moving closer. After Vladimir Putin became president in 2000, Russia and India concluded a fresh strategic partnership agreement.Bilateral Trade TiesDefense and nuclear energy will figure prominently in the prime minister’s discussions in Moscow. Yet it is equally important that both sides resolve at the highest levels to upgrade their economic relations. Bilateral trade has risen from a mere $1.67 billion in 2003-04 to $8.75 billion in 2010. But this fell short of even the modest projection of $10 billion.
An inter-governmental commission has been considering a range of measures to redress this state of affairs, including a comprehensive economic cooperation agreement and revival of the north-south transport corridor through Iran. Unless the two countries are able to add a solid economic layer to their relationship, its strategic dimension cannot be fully leveraged.
Strategic Partnership
Diverse areas of cooperation, from pharmaceuticals and hydrocarbons to information technology and aerospace engineering, which are yet to be explored, allow for optimism. Also, increased defense cooperation between the two countries has provided noteworthy results. At the start of the previous decade, India was only concerned with buying military technology from Russia.
The strategic partnership agreement has also facilitated cooperation in the energy sector. As a net importer of energy, India has increasingly turned to Russia as a major source of oil and natural gas. The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) Videsh has a 20 per cent stake in the Sakhalin-I oil and gas fields. New Delhi has also been keen on acquiring a comparable stake in the Sakhalin-III projects. India has been pursuing this for nearly six years now, but Russia is yet to respond favorably.
International Challenges
Putin takes over as president the following year and India can be assured of Russia’s continuing support with him around. After all, Putin has taken India-Russia relations to a new level since 2000, following the dry years of Boris Yeltsin. The real challenge is to reconcile the positions taken by India and Russia on the Afghanistan issue. While India believes that the US-led the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) forces should stay in Afghanistan until local forces are adequately equipped to take over, Russia insists that they should leave by 2014.
Moreover, the two countries are also faced with the challenge of evolving complimentary responses to a host of international challenges. The most pressing of these stems from Afghanistan. Even as the US and its allies prepare to drawdown their military presence in Afghanistan, the insurgency remains strong.
Both India and Russia are concerned about continuing instability, but their emphases are somewhat different. India is keen to ensure that Afghanistan does not again become a haven for terrorists, whereas Russia is more concerned about the problem of drugs flowing from that country. Moscow’s somewhat narrow approach is understandable in the light of its troubled history of involvement in Afghanistan. But it will be interesting to see how Russia’s policy shapes up in the aftermath of the US drawdown. The endgame in Afghanistan will unfold at a time when Russia’s relations with the United States are dipping.

2012: Year of Change of Big Powers’ Governments

US President Barack Obama has announced that he would contest the presidential election in 2012. Not only he, the leadership of four more permanent members of the UN Security Council is also facing election phase in their respective countries and the change of leadership may possible be seen. Obama announced to participate in the presidential election at a time when he recalled his bombers from Libya. But perhaps to fulfill his this promise or for the time being to show the American people that he intends to fulfill his promises, including the promises he had made in 2008 that he would call back the US troops from across the world, but it is the phase of producing the proof of his US citizenship. He is presenting his birth certificate.
Economic Crisis
British Prime Minister David Cameron too faces elections and perhaps he too may be far away from the success because his coalition government may face any economic crisis. There are signs of change in China as well. Xi Jin Yung will replace Hu Jintao there.
In the case of Russia, the election of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev depends on Vladimir Putin.
The success of the French president depends on his success in Libya and his office is at stake in the Libyan war.
As far as Obama is concerned, he still enjoys popularity and is moving fast and the killing of Usama Bin Laden has upped his popularity graph and history is with him. Republicans have yet not nominated their candidate. Perhaps, the 2016 election may be their target because currently they have no personality, who could compete with Obama. They are, however, definitely being accused in the US that they do not take hard stance against the enemies and ignore friends. If Sarah Palin emerged successful, it would be a historical jerk but its chances are very slim. For the success, Obama also needs success in Libya while the game of the chances of success in Afghanistan and withdrawal of troops from there will have to be played whereas in the US, there is talk of dialogue with 400 Taliban.
The Americans have made much investment on Russian President Medvedev, as they consider him a moderate person and supporter of a moderate policy. The Americans believe that he would avoid the policy of confrontation with the US because their problems too are of very serious nature. This is the reason that he avoids raising voice against the US and NATO because he is aware of the difficulties hovering around Russia. Their economy is not on sound footing and their population is decreasing. They too face threat from the Islamic extremists and they face the threat of the vacation of Siberia. As far as China is concerned, Obama knows that China is preparing to challenge them. It will definitely happen one day.
Correcting World Situation
The Americans are saying themselves that the US hunger that it correct the world situation or can lesson the difficulties of the world has died and it has started looking inwards. Then, the Americans know a little less about the incoming Chinese president but they are supporters of establishing relations on the economic lines.
1. The China challenging the US and the competition between the US and China is unavoidable. It is very important question as what arrangement Obama makes for it.
2. The Russian wholly depends on one vote of Vladimir Putin as to whether he supports the Russian president or not or he himself becomes the president. If he himself becomes the president, the difficulties may increase for the US but the affairs of Putin are not much good.
3. Third issue is of Afghanistan. This issue will be very important in the election campaign of Obama and that whether he starts fulfillment of his promise or not. The American people will definitely want to see it.
4. Last, the most important thing is that another major terrorism incident can change the entire global scenario. Any non-state actor may do anything such that the power game in the world can be turn down. The world may plunge into a global war or the tension may increase in the world. If the US president wins but the British and French rulers face defeat and in addition to Putin does not accept the pro-US president in Russia, the scenario may change. Bu after the arrest and humiliation of the International Monetary Fund Chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn of French origin, who was a candidate for the French presidency, in a sex scandal, the chances of the success of the incumbent French president have increased. Thus, the US president is advancing the game of next five years.

Afghanistan-Russia Cooperation

Afghan President Hamid Karzai had gone to Russia recently leading a high-ranking delegation on a formal invitation of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. During his two-day visit to Russia, Afghan President Karzai met Russian President Medvedev at the Kremlin House. Both presidents took part in a joint news conference after the meeting.

Welcoming his Afghan counterpart Karzai at the news conference, the Russian president expressed the determination that Russian would extend its cooperation with Afghanistan in trade and economic sector, and the trade transaction would be increased from last year's estimated $500 million.

Referring to strengthening of economic cooperation with Afghanistan, Medvedev said that in addition to modernizing the Naghlu power dam, central wind projects, factories of chemical fertilizers, and reconstruction of the Salang tunnel, Russia will also initiate power production projects in other provinces of the country, which will resolve problems of Afghanistan regarding power.

Boosting Defense Relations
The Russian president said at the news conference that in addition to cooperation with Afghanistan in the civil sector, his country will also continue providing support in the military sectors, which will start from extending the training of the National Army and the National Police of the country.

Similarly, he added that Russia would also increase the number of its experts in civil as well as military sectors in Afghanistan.

Referring to provision of academic scholarships to Afghan youths in Russia, Medvedev said: 'In the field of promoting and strengthening education in Afghanistan, we will continue our cooperation with the country, so that its youths receive higher education in Russia. Just now a number of students of Afghanistan are engaged in study in different fields in Russia.'

Medvedev announced the support of his country to the peace and national reconciliation process in Afghanistan, saying Russia would increase its support and cooperation in strengthening security foundations for establishing peace and stability in the country so that Afghanistan being an independent country gets strong national foundations and it can independently protect its land after withdrawal of international forces, and achieve considerable progress in different sectors with each passing year.

Fight Against Terrorism
Pointing to the international fight against terrorism, the Russian president said: 'Russia is cooperating in the field of providing transit facilities to international forces for establishment of peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region, so that these forces are able to further extend and make effective the joint struggle against terrorism.'

Medvedev said that Russian and Afghanistan had ancient relations, and termed Karzai's visit to Russian opening of a new chapter in the relations between the two countries. He said that strengthening and promoting the relations could further protect national interests of the two countries.

At the news conference, Afghan President Karzai thanked the Russian president and the people of the country for the better hospitality, and termed his visit to Russia very fruitful and successful in political and economic sector.

Referring to the ancient relations between Afghanistan and Russia, Karzai said: 'We have been having ties with each other for a long time, and now we are trying to have further close and deep relations.'

He acknowledged the support of Russia with Afghanistan in different sectors during the past 10 years, and hoped that this support would be further enhanced and extended in future.
During the news conference, the Afghan president sought the Russian president's cooperation in timely completion of the process of transferring responsibility of security from international forces to the Afghan forces.

He added: 'We demand of Russia to provide every kind of support in the field of training the National Army and the National Police of Afghanistan so that the Afghan forces are able to independently defend their land after the withdrawal of international forces from Afghanistan.'
Similarly, Karzai sought President Medvedev's support and cooperation in provision of scholarships to Afghan students and, similarly, reconstruction of projects carried out by the Soviet Union of the time in Afghanistan, and completion of a number of other projects, which have been left incomplete long ago.

At the news conference, Karzai invited Russian President Medvedev to visit Afghanistan at a suitable time, which he accepted.

Answering a question that United States is not repeating the mistake of the Soviet Union of the time in Afghanistan, the Russian president said that Russia was closely observing the mission of international forces in Afghanistan. He said: 'We want that their mission is successfully completed; that is why we are continuing our cooperation with them in the transit sector. Russia wants establishment of peace in the country and the region. International forces should not commit strategic mistakes that can become the reason for their failure.'

Russia is supporting Afghanistan so that its forces can protect their land themselves, and the international forces can leave Afghanistan one day with pride after completing their mission.
Replying to a question at the news conference regarding opening of a new chapter of relations between Afghanistan and Russia, Karzai said: 'Russia has very old relations with Afghanistan, the two countries understand each other well, and our relations have improved since 2002, and further promotion and strengthening of the relations is in the interest of both countries and the region.'

Similarly, Afghan President Karzai, and Russian President Medvedev also signed before the media a joint declaration of cooperation in different sectors between the two countries.

Similarly, before the press conference, Afghanistan Foreign Minister Dr Zalmay Rasool and Russian Economic Development Minister Livonia signed a trade and economic cooperation agreement in the presence of the presidents of the two countries, under which a number of projects will be initiated in the power production sector in different provinces of Afghanistan, including reconstruction of the Salang tunnel and central wind projects.

Afghan President Karzai met Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on 20 January. At the meeting held at the residence of the Russian prime minister, both sides stressed further promotion of political, economic, trade and cultural relations between the two countries.

Putin expressed the determination that his country would extend cooperation with Afghanistan in different sectors, saying: Russia is ready to provide support to Afghanistan in those fields where it needed the most.

On the second day of his visit to the Russia, Afghan President Karzai said in his address to students of the Diplomatic Academy of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: 'As a great political and economic country, Russia is capable of supporting not only Afghanistan but also other countries of the world in different fields.'

The president said: 'Afghanistan and Russia have had mutual relations for a century. The said relations are very old and everlasting, and Afghanistan is among those countries which the Soviet Union of the time has helped in different fields and has completed many projects in this country.'

He said that the relations between Afghanistan and Russia had grown stronger during the past 10 years and Russia was among those first countries whose heads he had met in 2002.
About the economic and trade relations between Russia and Afghanistan and similarly the military support, Karzai said that the approximation of the annual transaction between the two countries now reached $500 million and Russia was the country that did have economic and trade cooperation with Afghanistan and also supported them in training the National Army and the National Police.

Referring to the presence of international community in Afghanistan, the president said: 'In a situation when Afghanistan has relations with the United States, NATO and many other countries in different fields, it also holds very good bilateral relations with Russia; each of which is worth significance in its own place and no one can take the place of other.'

Referring to the better terms and conditions for investment in Afghanistan, the president said: 'Now Afghanistan is offering better terms and conditions for Russian investors, which will enable them to expand their projects by investing in Afghanistan.'

New Phase of Ties
About the fight against narcotics, Karzai said: 'The fight against this menace requires wide global efforts. Afghanistan is unable to fight against this phenomenon alone because the international mafia is involved in producing and transporting narcotics. We all should launch a strong and wide struggle for eliminating this menace.'

President Karzai met the head and members of the Russian Trade House and a number of traders of the country at the hall of the Trade House of the said country on 21 January.
Referring to trade relations between Afghanistan and Russia at the meeting, the Afghan president said that trade relations between the two countries existed for a long time, even before the formation of the Soviet Union, an example of which is the purchase of 50,000 tons of raisin from Afghanistan during the period of the Soviet Union. Construction of the Salang tunnel had also start during that time.

Pointing to the new phase of relations between Russia and Afghanistan, Karzai said that Afghanistan and Russia had entered into a new phase of their relations since 2002 and the approximation of transaction between the two countries reached $500 million per annum, now.

Free Trade Economy
Karzai added: 'Keeping in view that Afghanistan and Russia are situated in the same region, this feature can prepare ground for investment for traders of the two countries. He informed that Afghanistan welcomed the initiatives and presence of Russian investors in the country.'
He said: 'At present, Afghanistan has made quick progress in the telephonic service sector, and this country depended on free trade economy, its laws have also been formed on this basis.'
Similarly, about the performance of both Afghan and foreign joint companies in Afghanistan, the president said that the aforementioned companies were making good profits. He added that the economy of Afghanistan was improving; our country had $180 million in its coffers in 2002 which has now reached approximately $5 billion.

Similarly, pointing to natural reserves of Afghanistan, the president said: 'The natural reserves of Afghanistan are much richer than estimated in the past. According to initial studies, Afghanistan had natural reserves worth $3 trillion. On the basis of this study, I invite you to take advantage from the opportunities and sources available in Afghanistan, and invest in the country.

During the meeting, the Russian investors showed willingness to make investment in Afghanistan in different fields and demanded to functionalize the ports of Hairatan and Torghandi for the facilitation of trade between Afghanistan and Russia. Similarly, they showed their willingness in reconstruction of power production factories, mono-technique institutes and the Kabul Polytechnic, which were established at the time of the former Soviet Union.

Firm Friendship Between India and Russia

India's friendship with Russia is centuries old. It has withstood the test of time despite several stormy phases, successive governments coming in and going out of power, and aggravation and reestablishment of relations with neighbors. India's ties with Russia remained unaltered with the phase of the Soviet Union led by Communists coming to an end. A section of political quarters commented that the India-Russia friendship of the past probably would not be maintained.

Step Toward Furthering Ties
During the initial couple of years led by Boris Yeltsin, some uncertainty in relations with Russia was witnessed temporarily. Yet, for the past some time, warmth was felt. With Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin taking over the Russian president, the Indian-Russian ties were strengthened further. Ever since he became the Russia president, particularly during his recent India visit, he took a step toward furthering ties with India.

Putin held a series of meetings with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. After these meetings, 19 agreements were signed between the countries on a single day. Nonetheless, an issue has been hanging fire between India and Russia, relating to the purchase of the war fleet. The agreement was, however, finally reached after certain bargaining pertaining to the transaction and it was eventually signed. The deal for MIG-229 and for the purchase of a fresh consignment was also finalized. Another agreement related to the purchase of Sukhoi favorably competes with US friendships.

A nuclear bomb agreement was also reached with India that became a subject of debate but nothing positive emerged until hitherto. The deal was, however, finalized with an agreement with the visiting Russian prime minister under which 12 nuclear power houses will be set up in India. It will meet a big requirement of India. This was the only way out of the serious power crisis faced by the country in recent past. This has been made possible with the Russian support.

Laudable Achievement
The most laudable achievement is that Russia has resolved to back India in its fight against terrorism. Putin again promised support to India in the context of the latest scenario relating to Afghanistan. He described terrorist activities within Pakistan as a great threat to India and the rest of the world. He clarified that these terrorist activities pose a serious threat to the peace in the entire region. He categorically stated that banned militant organizations are engaged in terror activities openly.

The world today finds itself at a crossroad of shifting power balance. Now, there no longer prevails the US predominance. The conditions today have undergone a vast change. A new global change is emerging in the economic sector. Its due notice is being taken by the United States also.

Time Ahead
In the circumstances, the vital fact that has emerged is not that 19 agreements have been signed between India and Russia on a single day, but instead it is that the Indian-Russian proximity has reemerged with a bang once again. Putin has clarified that Russia will not extend friendship toward any country at the cost of India.

Its clear implication is that unlike Yeltsin who stopped the supply of saprogenic engine to India at the US instance, the present Russian rulers will not do so now. We wish this firm friendship between India and Russia will continue to be strengthened further in the times ahead.

Restoration of Old Warmth Between India, Russia

Looking at the success of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's two-day India visit, it seems that India and Russia are bringing back the old warmth in their relations, which had been lost with the end of Cold War.

India and the former Soviet Union were very close friends, then and India would stand alongside the Soviet Union at international forums to face the might of the United States. After the fall of the Soviet Union and its disintegration, global conditions changed and distance between India and the United States narrowed, and their relationship touched its peak with the nuclear deal between India and the United States. Relations between India and Russia never became sour, but a kind of laxity had crept in, which had created an atmosphere of diplomatic lethargy.

Strategic and Trade Agreements
It has become clear from the strategic and trade agreements signed during Prime Minister Putin's visit that both countries understand each other's significance. It seemed in the last decade that the world was becoming unipolar under US supremacy, but the growing strength and pace of China and India's development have created a new Asian pole.

Countries like India and China along with Russia conceptualized the Shanghai cooperation. Russia emerged as an economic superpower breaking its own economic shackles, but its trade dependence is on Europe. Russia is looking for new markets to change that dependence, and India is a friend as well as an emerging center of trade.

The New Avenues
To balance the power of China and the United States, mutual cooperation between India and Russia would open up new avenues. It is being hoped that bilateral trade, which is currently worth $8 billion annually, would reach $20 billion in the next five years. There has been a big deal with Russia for military weapons and Russia is also prepared to supply necessary uranium fuel and reactors to India, which is in the new nuclear club. India needs energy and there is huge reserve of petroleum products in Russia.

The United States is India's new friend, but there is always a shadow of doubt over this friendship because of double-faced policies of Washington regarding Pakistan. At the same time, the manner in which China is tightening its strategic and economic grip around India, cooperation between India and Russia becomes inevitable for peace and power balance.

Development in Pak-Russia Relations

Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has recently been on an official visit to China. Other than meetings with the Chinese leadership, Prime Minister Gilani also met the Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization's (SCO) annual meeting. According to the encouraging reports, from this meeting held few days ago, Pak-Russia relationships are taking birth again.

Four-Point Strategy
On the eve of the SCO meeting, the Pakistani prime minister believed that a permanent membership of organization should be given to Pakistan; moreover, the prime minister also suggested a four-point strategy for the extension of the SCO. Prime Minister Gilani's half an hour predetermined meeting with the Russian Prime Minister Putin continued for an hour and fifteen minutes, in which the Russian Prime Minister showed keen interest for the resolution of Kashmir issue.
The sources are also off the view that Russia has also purposed an arbitrator for resolving the Kashmir issue, which is quite an encouraging step. The Russian President while assuring the Prime Minister Gilani of supporting the comprehensive Indo-Pak dialogue has said that both the countries should continue talks, so that the peace situation in the region moves towards betterment. Russian Prime Minister Putin at that time offered assistance for the upgradation of the Pakistan Steel Mill.
The Russian prime minister also said that Pakistan is the most important country in the region, and we want to take this important country along. With regard to Pakistan's permanent membership in the SCO, Russia clearly stated that it will support Pakistan. Later, the prime minister addressed the Investment Forum, and requested the foreign investors to invest in Pakistan while assuring them complete security. While responding to a question regarding the Kerry-Lugar Bill, the prime minister said that parliament will take the decision regarding this bill.

Role of SCO
Pakistani Prime Minister Gilani's visit to China is of significant value, as the nominated prime minster officially visited the People's Republic Of China after a long time, and its fruits have started to show. China, who has cemented its dominance on the international economy, has always favored Pakistan on every forum before as well, and now by favoring Pakistan's policies to counter terrorism, China has once again proved that it is such a friend of Pakistan who is there to help Pakistan on every difficult stage. At least this is satisfying that Pak-China friendship does not depend upon the rulers; rather its roots are from the people of both the countries.
The role SCO is playing in the region, if we keep this in view than the Prime Minister Gilani's demand of permanent membership is extremely right and reasonable. Presently, the economical crisis of which Pakistan is a victim of, it requires that the countries which are the member of the SCO, according to Pakistan's role and importance should give it a status, which it deserves.

Resolving Kashmir Issue
The development in the relationship with the country like Russia started at a time when the US influence in the region was mounting. Pakistan always ignored the relationships with Russia on the US behest. The US role in Russia-Afghanistan war is quite evident on the entire world, and on that time dictatorship was dominant in Pakistan, and in such situations, decisions are independent and personal. Now when the democracy has emerged, the bilateral relationship development with Russia is extremely essential. The Kashmir issue is such a controversy amid Pakistan and India, whose resolution can only bring the wave of permanent peace in the region. Regarding this, Russia's proposal of an arbitrator proves that Russia is not unaware of the regional affairs.
It is a misfortune of Pakistan that its dictators, for their and US benefit did not allowed it (Pakistan)to secure a place that it deserves. The US intrusion in Pakistan always forced Pakistan to keep aloof with Russia. The United States is unable to control the Pakistani public other wise till now, distances would have taken birth between Pakistan and China as well. Presently, at this stage, when the entire world is a victim of terrorism threats, it is necessary for the Pakistani leadership to take such steps that considers good mutually peaceful environment with all the countries.
The progress in relationships with Russia is good news. It is required that Pakistan takes its decision like a independent state, and it should not require permission from a third country in order to increase relationships with other countries. It is the very attribute of a living nation, and Pakistan will have to adopt the same custom, so that Pakistan's future could prosper with the economical assistance.

New Dimension to US-Russia Relations

The accords signed by Russia and the United States during the historic visit of US President Barak Obama to Moscow do not just have bilateral importance. They are equally important from the viewpoint of future international politics. At a time when tension on the proposed US missile shield was mounting, the two countries agreed to limit the number of nuclear warheads and the number of missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons. This will bring relief to the international community.

Reducing Nuclear Arsenals
Russia may not be a superpower any longer, but its fighting capability is equal to that of the United States. The deal reached between the two countries to reduce their nuclear arsenals will obviously have a multidimensional effect on the world.

The START agreement, which is two-decade-old, will expire in December. This left the world wondering about the attitude of these two countries in this phase of instability and tension! Obama should be given credit for taking the necessary initiative to be in constant touch with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

An agreement on reducing the arsenals was finally reached. According to its terms, the number of nuclear warheads will be limited to between 1,500 and 1,675. The number of missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons will be reduced to between 500 and 1,100 within seven years. It is an established fact that these two countries are at the top in the matter of nuclear weapons of mass destruction. The exact number of weapons they possess is not known.

Importance of Accord
It is estimated that the United States has 2,200 and Russia has more than 2,700 nuclear weapons. With the implementation of this treaty, the nuclear arms stock of both countries will be more or less same. At a time when nuclear ambitions of some countries are creating problems for the international community, it is not difficult to grasp the importance of such an agreement. It has made both of them feel more secure, and the world too will feel much safer.

As a result of their mutual understanding, the United States has been allowed to use Russian airspace to transport its military supplies to the US troops fighting the Taliban and Al-Qa'ida in Afghanistan. Permission has been granted to 4,500 planes to take off in a year free of charges. With the use of Russian airspace, the United States will be in a stronger position strategically in the Afghanistan war. This can be regarded as the beginning of a joint fight against terrorism.

Thereby, joining hands with Russia, Obama has reduced his dependence on Pakistan considerably. He will receive its benefits in the entire Afghanistan-Pakistan strategy against Al-Qa'ida and the Taliban. Obama has, moreover, changed the rules in US-Russia relationship. Instead of a meeting at the bureaucratic level, he decided on a straight president-level discussion. This will have far-reaching results. The relationship between the two countries had deteriorated in the last eight nine years. Picking up the style of the Cold War period, George W. Bush declared nuclear disarmament treaties with Russia as meaningless when he assumed office. He made Poland and Hungary NATO members to push Russia into a corner. He openly supported separatist forces in Chechnya in an effort to disintegrate Russia. This was the state of affairs until last year when the two so-called pillars of former Soviet Union--Georgia and Ukraine--were offered NATO membership. This enraged Russia. As a result, Russia attacked Georgia. Two Russian-dominated areas declared their independence from Georgia.

Reducing Tension
Despite Obama's comparatively mild attitude, some points of tension between Russia and the United States still exist in full force. These include NATO membership of Georgia and Ukraine, apart from supply of Russian arms to Iran and Syria and separatist movement in Chechnya, and human rights violations there. One-time superpower, the Soviet Union has lost its identity. Russia today falls in line with three prominent developing countries, namely India, China, and Brazil. This, however, does not divest it of its importance of being world's number two in military strength. Russia possesses a huge nuclear arsenal. Very few countries can compete with it even in traditional weapons.

What is even more important is Russia's geographical position. It occupies a vast territory, which will never allow it to become weak. Nor can US activities in a unipolar world go unnoticed by it. The United States has been compelled to seek Russia's help because of Afghanistan

Cooperation and partnership among major countries are essential factors in this fight. It is expected that this partnership would be carried forward. However, it may be difficult for the two countries to get along with ease after years of distrust. . If Obama can convert this constraint into a relationship between equals, the world will be much more benefited in the long run.