Putin greets Prez, PM on 60 years of diplomatic relations

New Delhi, Apr 12 (UNI) Russian President Vladimir Putin today expressed appreciation at the scale of Indo-Russian relations over the past 60 years which had reached the level of strategic partnership and hoped that these would continue to evolve and strengthen.

Mr Putin, in separate messages to President A P J Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, which is tomorrow, said people of the two countries had been showing sincere sympathy for each other, genuine interest in cultural heritage and national creative thought and desire for multi-faceted and mutually-beneficial cooperation.

In his message to the President, Mr Putin expressed appreciation of President Kalam's enormous contribution to strengthening Indo-Russian ties and said the Russian people felt grateful when by a personal example, he (President Kalam) flew SU-30 fighter jet and dived on the Sindhurakshak submarine.

''You demonstrated the reliability of Russian equipment, giving thereby another important impetus to the development of Indo-Russian cooperation,'' Mr Putin said.

He said over the last 60 years, bilateral relations had achieved full-scale development and reached the level of strategic partnership, embracing a wide spectrum of spheres--from energy to agriculture, to outer space and high-technology.

He expressed confidence that on the firm basis of traditionally friendly ties and common long-term interests, Indo-Russian relationship would continue to evolve and strengthen and the forthcoming Year of Russia in india in 2008 and of India in Russia in 2009 would further enrich bilateral interaction.

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