Word: delhi
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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While Soviet divisions massed along Poland's borders, President Leonid Brezhnev coolly flew off to New Delhi last week to justify an earlier intervention by Moscow's forces. Addressing the Indian Parliament during a four-day state visit, Brezhnev scoffed at the notion that the invasion of Afghanistan a year ago might constitute a menacing precedent for Poland or any other country. "Opponents of detente," he charged, "are making a noise for all the world to hear about a 'Soviet threat' either to Pakistan or to the countries of the Persian Gulf, or God knows...
Such explanations carried little weight in New Delhi; the Indians share the prevailing world view that the invasion was a blatant act of Soviet aggression. Still, Brezhnev did manage to find a formula that sounded promising to his listeners. He won a brief burst of applause when he proposed to turn the Indian Ocean into a "zone of peace," though he did not explain how this might be accomplished. Nonetheless, the concept was welcome to India, which has been worried by the increased movement of U.S. vessels in the ocean and the rapid buildup of an American military and naval...
...scheme before venturing an opinion. But the Indian press was outspoken. Said The Hindu of Madras: "The plan is little more than the Soviet Union's propaganda points customarily aimed at the U.S. and now dressed up as a 'peace doctrine.' " The Indian Express of New Delhi pointed out the obvious: Brezhnev's proposals, if carried out, would undermine the Western military presence in the region but would leave the Soviet position untouched...
...changed atmosphere in indian-Soviet relations was reflected in the low-key welcome Brezhnev received. Though he was accorded the obligatory Chief of State reception at New Delhi's Palam Airport, where he was met by the Prime Minister, only a trickle of people turned out to greet him. Missing were the throngs who, during his 1973 visit, bore placards with sentiments like WELCOME BACK COMRADE BREZHNEV - TRUE FRIEND OF INDIA. The ailing 73-year-old Soviet leader, who had difficulty in walking unassisted, also experienced problems in reaching his residence. Instead of a triumphal motorcade, police...
India clearly is determined to remain on good terms with the U.S.S.R. - for compelling economic reasons. New Delhi's trade with Moscow is expected to dou ble in the next five years, reaching $12.9 billion by 1985, making the Soviet Union India's biggest trading partner. The Soviets last May sold arms to India worth $1.6 billion, under financing conditions that were much more favorable than those offered by any other country. Last week Brezhnev agreed to supply India with the 2.5 million tons of crude oil it desperately needs next year to help compensate...