Coming to our relations with the big powers - when I use the term ‘big powers’, please do not take it in the wrong sense; it is now a routine phrase to describe certain realities. Our relations with the United States were referred to yesterday. Some reference was made to some sentences in the report. May be they are possibly capable of being misinterpreted. But I would like to say that I have made the position very clear. When we say that our relations with USA and USSR are good, we do not bracket USSR with USA, because qualitatively the relationship is different. I have no doubt about it.
...What I am saying is more important than the report. Possibly it is likely to be misinterpreted and therefore, I am trying to make this point very clear. It is not good to quote oneself, but sometimes it becomes useful for elucidation. I am not making this position clear for the first time. I made the same point last year also. I quote :
"Again Prof. Mukherjee suggested yesterday that by mistake sometimes people try to bracket the two super powers together. I think that is not at least our Government’s attitude, because the two super powers cannot be bracketed together. They are not only qualitatively different but they are different from the point of view of our national interests. This is one fact we have to take note of.”
So, I think I have made this point very clear. Having said this - and he also concedes that point - even then, naturally, we should certainly try to make our relations friendly. This is exactly what we are doing. Somebody said that we have our national interests. When America’s national interests are reflected in their global policy, we come into conflict. But even then we feel that despite that, there are areas where we can co-operate. Therefore, we are making efforts to improve these. You know what efforts have been made. I do not want to go into details.
With USSR, our relations are very good; it is an excellent and a warm relationship. There was a recent reference to it in their Twenty-fifth Congress; and what their Secretary-General then said is ample proof of it. They have stood by India in difficult times. They have helped India in its economic and industrial growth and progress. Our outlook on many international matters is similar. But that does not mean that we follow Soviet Russia in every matter. Our outlook is sometimes different. I can mention specific area; but this is no occasion to do it. Our relations with Soviet Russia, are certainly very good; and we look forward to improve them still further. Recently, you must have read that the Deputy Chairman of our Planning Commission was in Soviet Russia and they have agreed on new areas of co-operation and patterns of co-operation. I am sure it will strengthen not only our relations, but also the strength of India.
