Delhi's 'impeccable' record lauded

New Delhi: Russia on Sunday lauded India's "impeccable" non-proliferation credentials, setting the stage for the two countries to sign a civil nuclear pact during Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's visit to New Delhi in December.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov held talks here ahead of the first official visit of Medvedev to India.

The two ministers also laid the necessary groundwork for the signing of the nuclear pact that envisages Russia building four more atomic reactors in the southern state of Tamil Nadu.

The pact, agreed on during a visit by former Russian President Vladimir Putin in January 2007 and initialled early this year, will follow similar pacts signed with the US and France.

Third pact

It will be the third bilateral nuclear pact India will ink after the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group lifted a global embargo against New Delhi on September 6.

Medvedev will come on his first official visit to India from December 3-5, official sources said.

"We are making all efforts to make the Russian president's visit a successful and landmark visit. The India-Russia strategic partnership is an important factor for stability not only in the region but in the world," Mukherjee told reporters at a joint press conference with Lavrov.

Rightful place

India's civil nuclear initiative, that has seen the lifting of three decades of sanctions, is "a landmark achievement" that would help the country "occupy its well deserved position in the comity of nations", External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee told parliament on Sunday.

The Nuclear Suppliers Group has allowed India to resume nuclear commerce.