Mr Putin’s message to Indian President Pratibha Patil reads in particular:
“We are genuinely happy to see your country’s impressive achievements over the years of its sovereign development in the economy, science and culture and public and political life. India today is a country that looks confidently towards the future and enjoys deserved importance and influence in the world.
We greatly value the relations of friendship and trust that Russia and India have established – relations that have stood the test of time and that, through our combined efforts, have reached a level of strategic partnership. We are traditionally united by common national interests and firm commitment to the ideals of a multipolar world and democratic development”.
In a telegram to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Mr Putin notes the following:
“Russia and India are united by common fundamental national interests and commitment to the ideals of peace and progress. This forms a reliable foundation for the strategic partnership between our countries, which just recently celebrated the sixtieth anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations”.