The Hindu : Front Page : Opportunity to firm up relations with France

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Friday, Jan 25, 2008
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Opportunity to firm up relations with France

Special Correspondent

President Nicolas Sarkozy coming today

Diminished business agenda
Mirage deal likely to offset copter tender cancellation

NEW DELHI: French President Nicolas Sarkozy arrives here on Friday to improve bilateral relations and open up more business opportunities for the French industry. He will hold talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee the same day.

Vice President Hamid Ansari, United Progressive Alliance Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha L.K. Advani will call on him. Mr. Sarkozy will also meet President Pratibha Patil.

The French President will be the chief guest at the Republic Day parade and immediately thereafter fly to Agra. He will attend the “At Home” hosted by Ms. Patil and a meeting with French citizens in India. He will fly back to Paris on Saturday night.

Mr. Sarkozy faces a diminished business agenda with the cancellation of an Army tender for helicopters, in which a French company was the frontrunner, and India’s refusal to sign a bilateral nuclear agreement until it got special exemption from the Nuclear Suppliers Group.

However, the visit will provide an opportunity to expand ties in defence and science and technology and evolve a strategic road map for future cooperation through a joint statement.

Memoranda of understanding in defence, railways, neurosciences and education are expected during the visit, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Navtej Sarna said on Thursday.

India is also attempting to offset the cancellation of the helicopter tender by planning to sign a contract with Dassault for upgrading the 52 French-origin Mirage fighter aircraft with the Indian Air Force.

Carla not on list

The External Affairs Ministry would not say whether Mr. Sarkozy’s girlfriend, supermodel Carla Bruni, would accompany him, but confirmed that a quick visit to Agra by the President was on the cards.

“As far as the delegate list is concerned, her name is not there. We can only tell you what we have received,” said Mr. Sarna.

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