Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Saturday lauded India's "historic successes" in socio-economic development and said that ties with New Delhi are Moscow's "unconditional foreign policy priority". In his messages to President Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the 63rd Independence Day, Medvedev reiterated Moscow's foreign policy priority of fostering strategic partnership and friendship with New Delhi. "In the years of independent development India has achieved historic successes in socio-economic and scientific-technological development and has joined the leading states of the global community," Medvedev said. "For Russian strategic partnership and friendly relations with India are an unconditional foreign policy priority," Medvedev wrote to President Pratibha Patil. "We are waiting for your visit to our country in September, which will, no doubt, become one of the central events of the Year of India in Russia," Medvedev wrote to the Indian President. In a separate message to Singh, the Russian leader wrote: "We in Russia share the feelings of joy and pride of the Indian friends on the outstanding achievements of your country in the fields of economic, social and scientific-technical development." He expressed hope that during Prime Minister Singh's Moscow visit later this year, which would crown the Year of India in Russia, the two leaders could continue their summit-level dialogue. In his messages to the Indian leaders Medvedev noted that by its right India has become a key nation in the international affairs. In the text of his messages to Patil and Singh released by the Kremlin, Medvedev has said that he is eagerly awaiting their Russia visits in this year being marked as the Year of India in that country. source : Zee
