MOSCOW, Feb 8: Russian media covered extensively President Pervez Musharraf’s historic visit front-paging his activities and talks with President Vladimir Putin.

Moscow’s English language daily The Moscow Times ran a lead story by staff writer Natalia Yefimova in its Friday edition on President Musharraf’s news conference just before his departure home on Thursday.

She wrote: “President Pervez Musharraf on Thursday wrapped up a three-day visit that was more symbolic than substantive, saying that Islamabad and Moscow had left behind the Cold War animosity that once separated them.

“We have ushered in a new era of friendship between Pakistan and Russia. We need to start with a clean slate in our bilateral relationship. We need to reinforce the good of the past and bury the bad.”

However, according to the writer while the meetings between the two presidents and other officials were marked by cordiality and good will, it is unlikely that Pakistan will become more than a blip on Russia’s foreign policy.

During his visit to the prestigious Russian paper, Izvestia where he met the editorial board and staff journalists, the paper headlined a banner “The President of Pakistan invites Russians to warm waters.”

In a writeup on the visit to his organization, staff writer Gennady Charodeev said having familiarized with the work of the newspaper, General Musharraf behind a cup of tea shared the impressions of his first visit to Moscow: “Despite the cold and freezing temperatures the warmth of your souls and the hospitality shown to our delegation has made us quite warm.

“As far as I know, erstwhile Soviet Union aspired to reach warm waters of the Indian Ocean. We would like all countries of the Central Asia wanting to reach world market should do so through Pakistan. We invite Russia also to pass this way.”

Other papers that covered the president’s visit were Kommersant, Vremya MN, Trud, and Nezavisimaya Gazeta.

Earlier, on the day of his arrival on Feb 4, important dailies published written interviews with the president.

Daily Izvestia published one-page supplement on Feb 5, highlighting Pakistan-Russia trade and bilateral relations with the president’s profile and Pakistan Ambassador Syed Iftikhar Murshid’s message.

The Russian State TV network-RTR Channel 2, telecast exclusive interview with the president with focus on Musharraf-Putin talks, the nuclear and Kashmir issues. —APP