Talks today
MOSCOW, Sept. 27.—The Indian Prime Minister, Mrs Gandhi, who flew into a rousing reception in Moscow today on a three-day visit, will being talks with Kremlin leaders at 10 a.m. tomorrow, reports agencies.
The General Secretary of the Communist Party,, Mr. Brezhnev, back here tonight from his East European tour, and President Podgorny will join the Prime Minister, Mr. Kosygin, .at the talks in the Kremlin.
She was to have started talks within two hours of her arrival today at 2 p.m. but a spokesman explained they were put off as some of the leaders, who were keen to take part in them, could not be present in time.
Soon after arival Mrs. Gandhi held informal discussions with Mr. Kosygin at the Kremlin.
The changes in the programme were agree on by the two Prime Ministers as they drove in state from the ceremonial Nukovo Airport.
The banquet scheduled for tonight in the Kremlin, has also been put off till tomorow with other consequent adjustments in the programme. In all six hours have been put aside tomorro. for the summit talks.
This will be in two sessions-10 to 1 in the morning and 4 to 7 in the afternoon. The talks may be prolonged on Wednesday too, if required, entailing possible delay in the Prime Minister’s departure at the scheduled time of 2 p.m. on September 29.
Meanwhile, Mr. D. P. Dhar Chairman of the Policy Planning Committee of the Ministry of External Affairs and Mr. T. N. Kaul, Foreign Secretary who came with the Prime Minister, had an hour’s talks with the acting Foreign Minister, Mr. V. Kuznetzov, and the Deputy Foreign Minister, Mr. Nikolai Firyubin.
The Prime Minister spent a quiet evening in the Indian Embassy meeting the families of the embassy personnel.
The changes in the programme and the level of participation in the Kremlin talks were seen here as recognition of the higher stature of Indo-Soviet relations following the recent treaty and of the importance of the bilateral and world issues on which views would be exchanged.
According to a spokesman the subjects to be discussed at the Prime Minister’s talks will include follow-up action to the Indo-Soviet treaty, economic co-operation, expansion of co-operation in other fields as well as Bangladesh issues.
India will raise not merely the humanitarian aspects and economic impact of the problem of refugees but also its social and political implications to India and to the region as a whole.
The possibility of an immediate political solution in keeping with the rights and wishes of the Bangladesh people which will enable them to return will also be gone into alongside joint action to arrest further deterioration in the situation.
According to the new programmes the Prime Minister will meet the Indian nationals and students in Moscow State University on Wednesday when she will also receive an honorary degree from that institution.
The Soviet Government will give luncheon in honour of Mrs. Gandhi tomorrow in place of dinner scheduled for tonight but cancelled as part of the rescheduling of her programme.
Mrs. Gandhi reached the Soviet capital after an eight-hour nonstop flight from New Delhi. As she stepped out of the Boeing 707 aircraft, Dhaulagiri, at Vnukovo Airport she was greeted by Mr. Kosygin and his top aides, including the First Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Kirill Nazurov, the Defence Minister, Mr. Andrei Grechko, and the Deputy Foreign Ministers, Mr. Kuznetsov and Mr. Firyubin.
The large crowd of Indians and Russians present waved tiny Indian and Soviet flags and shouted slogans halling Indo-Soviet friendship.
The sky was overcast, but the rain, which had been falling intermittentily, obligingly ceased for about 30 minutes enabling the airport ceremonies to go through.
A group of Soviet and Indian children rushed towards the Prime Minister and presented her with bouquets of red roses and carnations as she walked towards the cheering crowds.
From the airport Mrs. Gandhi, with Mr. Kosygin, drove to the Kremlin, where she will stay during the visit.
The Prime Minister told newsmen in New Delhi today before her departure that she was visiting Moscow to keep herself abreast of world events.
“It is very important in today’s fast-changing world to keep in touch with others. It is necessary to meet friends an exchange ideas with them,” she said.
She added that the Indo-Soviet treaty was welcomed by the entire people of India. “The signing of the treaty was not only timely but necessary.”
Mrs. Gandhi was seen off at Palam airport by her Cabinet colleagues, members of Parliament. Soviet Embassy staff, service chiefs and Delhi Congress leaders.
The Soviet Communit Party paper, Pravda, today warmly welcomed the visit of Mrs. Gandhi.
Reference: Hindustan Standard 28.9.1971