Delhi Declaration on Further Consolidation of Strategic Partnership between the Republic of India and the Russian Federation

New Delhi-December 04, 2002

The Republic of India and the Russian Federation,

- relying on long-standing traditions of friendship and good-neighbourliness;

- 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;

- 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;

- determined to elevate their strategic partnership to an even higher and qualitatively new level in both bilateral and international arenas;

- 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.