OREANDA-NEWS. On 19 March 2008 was announced, that Indian Naval Forces Commander Admiral Suresh Mekhta visited Severodvinsk. The most important question that he was interested in was work progress on "Admiral Gorshkov" ("Vikramaditya"). After careful inspection Mr. Mekhta noticed: "I am satisfied with quality of works and cooperation between my observation group and enterprise. It is good for final result. We work on this project for a long time. We have prepared detailed working sheets where it is calculated how long time and how much money are required for cruiser repair. Unfortunately due to some reasons we could not follow initial terms. Now Sevmash has new Director and he began active measures on updating this question. Today I have seen works on cruiser and I hope that soon we can see cruiser afloat".

Suresh Mekhta noticed: "Now we carry out complex negotiations between our countries regarding financial problem: your delegation works in India, where we shall take decisions which will be realized here. To sign this contract we needed four years and we need time to discuss new conditions. I want to emphasize that relations between India and Russia, between Indian Naval Forces and your enterprise shall be at a higher level. They shall not be based only on economical mutually profitable conditions. We trust that we have strategic cooperation. In due time cruiser became present which made mutual profit. Now we shall do our best to achieve final result.

Besides ship inspection Mr. Mekhta arranged negotiations with Sevmash Director General N. Kalistratov and visited "Zvezdochka" where submarine "Sinduvidjay" is being repaired.