Russia, India lay groundwork for nuke pact

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NEW DELHI, Oct 20 (AFP): Russia and India were Monday laying the groundwork for the signing of a civil nuclear energy deal, following New Delhi's signing of similar pacts with Washington and Paris, officials said.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was in India for talks with his counterpart Pranab Mukherjee as well as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, ahead of an expected visit to New Delhi in December by President Dmitry Medvedev.
An Indian foreign ministry official said the two former Cold War allies were expected to sign an atomic energy deal when Medvedev makes his first visit on December 5.