russie inde 6jun2

 Moscow, June 5 Itar-Tass/ACSNA/IRNA -- Russia will do everything it   
can to prevent the Indian-Pakistani conflict from developing into a   
war, Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said Wednesday.                   
    In a meeting with the national security adviser to the Indian     
prime minister, Brajesh Chandra Mishra, Ivanov said "Russian-Indian   
relations are developing in all areas".                               
    "Traditionally we have had good relations in the security sphere",
he said, adding, "we have much in common, not only in the economic,   
military and military-technical fields, but also in the fight against 
terrorism".                                                           
    "Naturally Russia is also worried by the threat of conflict       
between India and Pakistan, and therefore it is ready to overcome this
situation together with the international community", the minister    
said.                                                                 
    Mishra said India and Russia are strategic partners. He expressed 
concern about the situation in the region. "No one in India wants a   
war, and everybody is seeking to put an end to transborder terrorism",
he said.                                                              
    In his words, India shares and supports Russia's positions with   
regard to Chechnya. "This is a fight against terrorism that is driving
towards separatism. We are also fighting terrorism in Jammu and       
Kashmir, which gets help from Pakistan in the form of weapons and     
hardware", Mishra said.                                               
    He believes that there are no reasons for India and Russia not to 
cooperate in the fight against terrorism.                             
    Speaking to the press after the meeting, Ivanov said Russia is    
coordinating its efforts to resolve the Indian-Pakistani conflicts    
with other countries, primarily the United States and China.          
    "We are worried by the explosive conflict and the continuing      
artillery and mortar fire on the lone of control", he said.           
    In his view, "the position of Russia here does not differ from the
positions of other countries, including both NATO and non-NATO ones". 
    "This conflict is potentially very dangerous for the whole world, 
and we are coordinating our steps with other states", the minister    
said.                                                                 
    Ivanov plans to discuss this issue with U.S. Defense Secretary    
Donald Rumsfeld in Brussels on Thursday.                              
    "We believe our role is to stand ready to do everything we can to 
assuage the conflict", he added.                                      
    He said Russia has two strategic partners in Asia - China and     
India.                                                                
    Ivanov discussed the problem of international terrorism at a      
recent meeting with Chinese officials. "This problem is a matter of   
concern to China, just as it is to Russia and the U.S", he said.      
    "China is also a victim of terrorist sorties. Until recently not  
only mercenaries from Chechnya but also from China - Uigurs -         
underwent combat training in Afghanistan", the minister said.         
    "Russia gives no preference either to the West or the East. Indeed
even a phrase has been coined about an arch of stability", Ivanov     
said.                                                                 
     "We want this arch to strength from Vancouver to Vladivostok and 
include India", he said.                                              
    Ivanov believes "this arch would be some sort of countermeasure   
against the policy of instability and terrorism".                     
NA/AR                                                                 
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