Iran seeks closer naval ties with oil-starved India

[burster]

Iran seeks closer naval ties with oil-starved India

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070305/wl_sthasia_afp/india************_070305182205;_ylt=AmrLbhSP73OduDQSjTHtqWJA 7AkB

NEW DELHI (AFP) -
Iran on Monday urged India to forge closer military ties, especially between their two navies, officials told AFP.
Iranian naval chief Sajjad Kouchaki Badelani kicked off a five-day visit with talks with local military leaders including Defence Minister K.A. Antony, Indian navy spokesman Vinay Garg told AFP.

"The two sides spoke about (bilateral) maritime cooperation and about our energy needs and they called for closer cooperation," Commander Garg said.
"The talks were far-reaching in regards to our presence up to Australia and theirs across the (Indian Ocean) rim nations," added a top naval official, who did not want to be named.

Iran's ties with India were piqued over Delhi's support for an
International Atomic Energy Agency demand for Tehran to freeze its nuclear programme as well as the UN watchdog's decision to report the issue to the Security Council.

Meanwhile a deal to sell Iranian gas through a 2,600 kilometre (1,600 mile) pipeline to India via rival Pakistan remains at the planning stage mainly due to diplomatic, military and economic hurdles.
India, which meets 70 percent of its oil needs through imports, mostly from the Gulf, signed a civilian nuclear energy deal last year with the United States.

[sacred defence]

it is an excellent idea for both countries to forge stronger military ties, they have very good cultural, trade and politcal ties so it seems natural they should have military ones also, only problem is america wil again stick its filthy nose into this and try to disuade india from doing so, as for the new gas pipeline it has all been now negotiated the last stumbling block was transit fees and priceing, again with this gas deal america is plying political and economical pressure on both india and pakistan to scupper the deal, says a lot about america.

[Famous 5]

I tried to post link(s) but I need 30 posts before I can post link(s).

[Famous 5]

New Delhi, March 5, IRNA

India-Iran-Navy
The Islamic Republic of Iran's naval chief Rear Admiral Sajjad Kouchaki, who is currently visiting India upon the invitation of his Indian counterpart, termed military relations between the two countries "historical."

The chief of the Islamic Republic of Iran's Navy, talking to IRNA, expressed hope his talks with India's defense minister and top brass of its military, including its chiefs of army, navy and air force, as well as his trip to ports and navy facilities in eastern and western India will help strengthen ties between the naval forces of the two countries.

Elaborating on the aims of his six-day visit, Rear Admiral Kouchaki said that some parts of the protocol signed between the defense ministers of India and Iran four years ago are to be finalized.

One of the important aims of this visit is to implement various clauses of the protocol signed between the two countries four years ago for cooperation in the field of training and defense, Khouchaki added.

Regarding the contents of the protocol, Rear Admiral Kouchaki said formation of expert groups to work out deployment of naval forces in the Oman sea and Indian Ocean, cooperation to check threats and terrorism and exchange of experiences, expertise and technology between the naval forces of India and Iran are parts of the protocol.

On establishment of a search and rescue center by the two countries' naval forces, the Iranian naval chief said he would discuss the issue with Indian naval officials.

It could be set up in Chabahar region, southern Iran, or in India to help submarines whenever the need arises, Rear Admiral Kouchaki added.




A week after banning the export of nuclear material to Iran, India's Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed leaves Monday on a crucial four-day visit to Tehran during which he is expected to hold talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki.

'I am representing the government at a three-day conference of Indian Ocean Rim countries in Tehran,' Ahamed told IANS Saturday.

Ahamed said the meeting with Mottaki would be an opportunity for New Delhi to reiterate the need for strengthening its traditional relations with Iran.

The bilateral meetings will take place on the sidelines of the conference of 18 Indian Ocean Rim countries, which is aimed at exploring ways to promote cooperation, particularly trade and commerce, among them.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee had visited Tehran in February during which Mottaki announced that there would be a trilateral summit to finalise the proposed 2,700-km-long gas pipeline from Iran to India through Pakistan.

New Delhi last week banned the export of any material and technology to Tehran that could help in the development of its nuclear weapons programme.

The ban was in compliance with the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1737, imposed last month, which mandated economic and other sanctions till Iran stopped its nuclear enrichment and activities related to the development of research reactors.

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Mods 30 posts for links? damn i had a pic of Naval chiefs :(.