(a) whether the Deputy Prime Minister of Russia visited India in February, 2002;
(b) if so, the outcome of the discussions held with him;
(c) whether any strategic agreement was signed between the two countries during the visit; and
(d) if so, the details thereof ?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI OMAR ABDULLAH)
(a): Yes, Sir. Mr. Ilya Klebanov, then Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of the Russian
Federation, paid an official visit to India from 5-8 February, 2002 for the Eighth Session of the
Indo-Russian Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and
Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC) and the Second Session of the Indo-Russian Inter Governmental
Commission on Military-Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-MTC).
(b), (c) and (d): During this visit, Mr. Klebanov and Finance Minister Shri Yashwant Sinha
co-chaired the Eighth Session of the IRIGC on 7 February, 2002. Mr. Klebanov and Raksha Mantri
Shri George Fernandes co-chaired the Second Session of the IRIGC-MTC. Protocols were signed at
the end of both these meetings.
Mr. Klebanov also called on the President and Prime Minister of India. He met with the
External Affairs Minister and Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister and National Security
Advisor Shri Brajesh Mishra.