President A P J Abdul Kalam on Monday began the first state visit of an Indian President to Moscow since the collapse of the Soviet Union, with growing defence ties topping the agenda. Kalam was warmly welcomed by the Russian Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin at the VVIP `Vnukovo-II` airport and was also given a ceremonial Guard of Honour at the tarmac. In Pic: Kalam inspects a Russian honor guard upon his arrival at the Vnukovo II airport. AFP
