The Hindu : Front Page : France to help India in nuclear field

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Sep 13, 2005

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Front Page

France to help India in nuclear field

Harish Khare

Boost to bilateral cooperation

PARIS: France has promised to leave "no stone unturned" to enable India to meet its civilian nuclear needs, a euphemism for a gradual dismantling of the restrictive Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

This "commitment" came during an "extremely warm" meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and French President Jacques Chirac at the Elysee Palace here on Monday.

Scorpene deal

But before the "commitment" was made Mr. Chirac put on record that Dr. Singh "is confirming today the decision to buy six Scorpene submarines and 43 Airbus aircraft which is of course a token of confidence, friendship and cooperation we are of course sensible to." Both sides avoided any suggestion of a quid pro quo.

In fact, the Indian side stopped short of suggesting that a nuclear "deal" was clinched. India also hinted that it was ready to buy French nuclear reactors and a feasibility study was already being undertaken.

Preventing proliferation

The operative part of the joint statement issued by the two leaders reads: "France acknowledges the need for full international civilian nuclear cooperation with India and will work towards this objective by working with other countries and the NSG and by deepening bilateral cooperation. France appreciated India's strong commitment to prevent weapons of mass destruction (WMD) proliferation and the ongoing steps it is taking in this regard. In this context, both countries will also work towards conclusion of a bilateral nuclear cooperation agreement." The two countries agreed to work on "a framework agreement on defence cooperation," besides the promised dismantling of the NSG regime.

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