Monday, May 30 2005 10:00 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Onboard President's Aircraft: India and Switzerland have agreed on a joint space research programme in which New Delhi will also offer its satellites to Swiss researchers.

The joint research programme envisages use of space technology for peaceful purposes, including predicting avalanches, President A P J Abdul Kalam told reporters on completion of State visits to Russia and Switzerland.

India has also offered its satellite launch pads to place Swiss satellites into orbit, he said.

"When I first handed over three-dimensional stereo-mapped photographs of the Alps he (Swiss President Sameul Schmid) was very impressed," Kalam said.

He said after his four-day visit to Switzerland, cooperation in the field of science and technology would be intensified and trade ties further improved.

"We have also sought cooperation from Switzerland in training Indian personnel in disaster management," he said.

On Switzerland remaining non-comittal in its support to India's bid for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council (UNSC), he said, "They have their own stand. They want the reforms of the UN to begin first."

Kalam is on four-nation visit to Russia, Switzerland, Iceland and Ukraine.

Kalam said ties between India and Russia, which have already been strong, would be further strengthened following his visit to that country.

He said, during his Russia visit, the two countries identified five areas for cooperation, which include forecasting earthquakes, cooperation in nano-science, mathematics and laser science technology and trade.

India has also offered to cooperate in oil exploration while Russia has offered its expertise in nuclear power generation.

The President said India and Russia have also agreed to discuss launching a joint satellite for youth, which would benefit millions of students across the world.

On the commercial side, Kalam said, "I have also suggested to have a collaboration like India had with Russia in development of BrahMos supersonic missile, where the two countries jointly undertook design, development and production of the missile."

Kalam yesterday arrived in Reykjavik, the first ever State-visit by an Indian leader to Iceland.

During his stay in Iceland, Kalam said he would look forward for cooperation in certain areas of science like prediction of earthquakes; solar and geo-thermal power generation and fisheries.