JOIN US"...ten years ago, the Russian Federation openly, publicly declared that there should be reform of Security Council of the UN. We are confident that India should become member of the security council and we have not changed our position," Russian Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov said here at a function organised by CII and Ficci.
Other permanent members of the Security Council -- the US, Britain and France -- have also supported India's entry into the powerful world body. However, China, another permanent member of the UNSC, has been guarded on this.
India, which is a founding member of the UN, will have a two-year stint in the UNSC as a non-permanent member from January 2011.
Talking about civil nuclear cooperation with India, Ivanov said it is one of the most promising areas of bilateral relations, especially taking into account the new status acquired by India in 2008 when its nuclear isolation ended.
"In short and long term, we consider India as one of the main customers ordering all equipment and technology in peaceful uses of nuclear energy," he said.
He said Russia has managed to develop a high profile in the Indian market by constructing two nuclear reactors at Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu.
"We plan to finish one plant in the near future and in the same time we hope to start construction of the second one," the Russian minister said.
In the Civil Aviation field, he said Russia could offer not only Russian aviation equipment "that ranks highly in the international market" but could also take part in the joint development of a civil version of multi-purpose transport aircraft.