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Gorshkov deal successfully concluded: Foreign Secretary

India and Russia have "successfully" concluded the agreement on the Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier, ending a long standoff over the key defence deal, Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said.

Updated on: Dec 08, 2009 09:29 PM IST
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India and Russia have "successfully" concluded the agreement on the Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier, ending a long standoff over the key defence deal, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said.

HT Image
HT Image

The issue, Rao said, came up during the summit level talks between visiting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Monday.

"Both the leaders discussed the issue and noted excellent progress on negotiations on price and technical issues which have been brought to a successful conclusion," she told reporters in a late night briefing.

But the foreign secretary gave no details about the price. Sources had earlier said that it was "satisfactory" for both sides.

The delivery of the aircraft carrier, now rechristened INS Vikramaditya, was agreed years ago but has been long delayed due to bargaining over refitting prices.

The haggling of the Soviet-era carrier had come to symbolise the strains in relations between the two Cold War allies.

Russian media quoting Kremlin sources confirmed that Moscow would finally deliver the refurbished aircraft carrier to India.

However, there was no word on when the vessel might be handed over to the Indian Navy.

The two sides also inked three military pacts.

 
Get the latest headlines from US news and global updates from Pakistan, Nepal, UK, Bangladesh, Russia and US Iran war Live, get all the latest headlines in one place on Hindustan Times.
Get the latest headlines from US news and global updates from Pakistan, Nepal, UK, Bangladesh, Russia and US Iran war Live, get all the latest headlines in one place on Hindustan Times.
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