Russia marks centenary of Consulate General in Kolkata

In a message to mark the centenary of the Russian Consulate Gneral in Kolkata, Mr Lavrov described the occasion as a "momentous event" in Russian-Indian relations.

He said the friendship between the peoples of the two countries had deep historic roots and had stood the test of time.

"Relations between our countries have never been clouded by any disagreements or conflicts," he said.

Exuding confidence that there were excellent prospects for even greater cooperation between the two countries, Mr Lavrov said the Consulate General in Kolkata would actively facilitate this.

A commemorative function was held at the Consulate General in Gorky Sadan, the Russian Centre of Science and Culture, in Kolkata to mark the centenary.

West Bengal Governor M K Narayanan, political leaders, diplomats, businessmen, scholars, scientists, artistes and journalists were amongst those present on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, Russian Ambassador to India Alexander M Kadakin said the establishment of the Consulate General in what was then known as Calcutta after the one in Bombay was closed was one of the crucial milestones in the history of the ties between the two cuntries.

He said that the relations between the two countries were today characterised by a full-scale, multi-faceted and truly strategic partnership, which was graphically demonstrated during the recent visit of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to India.

He paid tributes to Russia's first diplomats in India, he said that, between the 1950s and the 1990s, when there was an upsurge of bilateral trade as well as economic, scientific and technical cooperation between the two countries, the ertswhile Soviet Union had assisted India in creating the country's heavy and engineering industries.

He pointed out that Calcutta, with its well-developed port facilities, became one of the leading conduits of that cooperation.

He said the Russian Consulate General in Kolkata toda promotes trade and economic, scientific and technical cooperation with all of East India.

"Cooperation in such a broad spectrum would not be possible, but for the effective and efficient work of our mission in this famous megapolis. This demonstrates the continuity of the best traditions and their innovations started here by our gifted predecessors one century ago and honourably upheld today," he added.

NNN