Pranab briefs Russia on Indo-US nuke deal

Herbin, China, Oct 24 (UNI) External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee today briefed his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on various aspects of the Indo-US civil nuclear deal.

The two Foreign Ministers discussed various facets of the Indo-Russian relations at the bilateral talks here as they also prepared the ground work for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to that country in the second week of next month.

According to External Affairs Ministry sources, the current volatile situation in Afghanistan, Myanmar and energy and economic cooperation found a special mention during the talks.

Both the leaders deliberated over various measures to further extend bilateral energy cooperation.

Russia is a key member of the Nuclear Suppliers' Group (NSG) and is helping India set up nuclear reactors in Kudamkulam.

Both the nations also decided to organise various events on the 60th anniverasry of the Indo-Russia diplomatic relations. Russia will celebrate 2008 as India year while India will dedicate the year 2009 to Russia in this regard.

The organising committee of the these events will be headed by Dr Karan Singh in India and Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Alexander Zhukov.

UNI