PARIS: France and India are "not very far" from reaching a broad agreement on civilian nuclear cooperation as envisaged in their February declaration on "development of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes," issued during President Jacques Chirac's visit to New Delhi.

"We are moving in the last phase of this process," French Defence Ministry spokesman Jean-Francois Bureau told visiting Indian presspersons at the Ecole Militaire (military school) on Monday.

The declaration and the impending agreement will give France a head start in its bid to enter the civilian nuclear energy market in India once the Nuclear Suppliers Group relaxes restrictions on New Delhi.

Study by French firm

Indian officials told this correspondent that French company Aveva had reportedly completed a feasibility study to set up six civilian nuclear plants in India.

According to them, each nuclear reactor would cost over one billion Euros.

Though Mr. Bureau said the question of civilian nuclear cooperation must be addressed to industry, he stressed that Paris wanted to "ease the energy needs" of India. However, this cooperation had to be compatible with global rules. Also, France did not want to give a "wrong signal" to other countries through civilian nuclear cooperation with India.

Mr. Bureau, who was speaking ahead of a meeting between visiting Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee and his French counterpart, Michele Alliot-Marie, pointed out that the level of "strategic partnership" with India was "good."

Besides reviewing the implementation of key defence contracts, including the Scorpene submarine deal, the two Ministers would discuss Lebanon, West Asia and Afghanistan.

Situation in Afghanistan

France, which has taken up the command of the International Security Assistance Force in Kabul, was very concerned about the security situation in Afghanistan.

On the French decision to bolster its troop strength in UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) under a renewed U.N. Security Council mandate, the spokesman was clear. "We can't have a new failure. This mission is very difficult."

According to him, the idea was to promote ceasefire in Lebanon as well as the cessation of hostilities.

"We want to help the Lebanon Army develop in the south [of Lebanon]," Mr. Bureau maintained.

Aware of the fact that India will not add to its troop strength in Lebanon due to problems with the new mandate, he said the new mandate, under Chapter VI of the U.N. Charter, did not give UNIFIL the power to disarm groups in southern Lebanon.

Interestingly, French troops would be armed with both tanks and 155-mm howitzers, General Philippe-Alexandre Ellenbogen, deputy spokesman of the Ministry, said in response to questions.

The objective of a refurbished UNIFIL, for which France will send 1,600 additional soldiers this week, is to provide the Hizbollah with an "impulse" to opt for dialogue, than armed actions.

Stating categorically that the French troops were not going to fight a war in Lebanon, Mr. Bureau said the idea was to ensure the sovereignty of Lebanon.

Asked about the Israeli invasion of Lebanon, he said, "We don't try to establish which of the two sides is responsible."

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