New Delhi, Dec 3, SPA -- Russian President Vladimir Putin arrivedon Friday to hold talks on expanding trade and cooperationwithIndia. "We are alarmed by a difficult and dramatic situation inIraq," Putin told The Hindu newspaper in written responsesto questions. "This is the threat Russia repeatedly warnedthe U.S. and their rallies about before action was takenagainst the (Saddam) Hussein regime." He said a number of foreign leaders had expressed fears tohim over the United States' decision to attack Iraq withoutoverwhelming international support. "We have repeatedly called our American partners'attention to this reality," Putin said in his responses,published Friday. "And eventually they realized the needto reach a political settlement in Iraq using the U.N.mechanisms." While praising President Bush as a statesman and an allyin the war on terror, he also said he believed Bush'ssecond administration "will undoubtedly bear in mind'Iraqi lessons' when determining its foreign policy." During Putin's visit, the two countries were expected tomake a joint declaration and sign several deals, includingagreements on exploring peaceful uses of outer space,easier visa rules and India's inclusion in theRussia-promoted Global Satellite Navigation System, anIndian official said. Putin and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh were alsoexpected to discuss joint ventures to develop "futuristicweapons" and commercial production of a jointly developedsupersonic cruise missile, the official said on conditionof anonymity. Cooperation in information technology is another keyfeature of Putin's three-day visit. The Russian presidentis to travel to Bangalore, India's software capital, onSaturday to meet with business leaders and visit a topinformation technology company. Hours before Putin's arrival, the two countries agreed todraft an accord on intellectual property rights within fivemonths, Indian Defense Minister Pranab Mukherjee said aftermeeting with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Ivanov. Mukherjee said they also discussed new investment tocommercially produce the Brahmos, an anti-ship missiledeveloped jointly by India and Russia. The missile has a target range of 290 kilometers (180miles) and can carry up to a 300-kilogram (660-pound)conventional warhead. It is capable of being launched fromships, submarines, planes and land. "Military-technical cooperation between Russia and Indiahelps in maintaining stability on the Indian subcontinentand is a crucial component of the entire range of bilateralrelations," Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman AlexanderYakovenko said earlier this week. On Thursday, the two sides agreed to work out "mutuallyacceptable" conditions on leasing long-range TU-22bombers. India's navy is also paying billions of dollars for arefurbished Russian aircraft carrier. Moscow has agreed toequip the craft with MiG-29 fighter jets. It is expected tojoin India's fleet in 2008. The biggest deal, however, would be the construction andlease to India of two nuclear submarines. Russia and India have close relations dating back to theCold War, when the United States deepened ties with Pakistan. Russia is already helping India build two nuclearreactors. The first is to be completed by 2007, and the twocountries are talking about building four more.--SPA1220 Local Time 0920 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/221585