NEW DELHI, 26 January 2008 — French President Nicholas Sarkozy, who would be the chief guest at today’s Republic Day celebrations, expressed confidence yesterday that his visit would “further boost” Indo-French ties. Soon after being accorded a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhawan, Sarkozy said: “I have expressed to the president and the prime minister my warmest thanks for the magnificent welcome that has been extended to us. And to say just how delighted I am to be here to further boost our partnership with the great, great country. The great civilization that is India.”
Sarkozy and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh held wide-ranging discussions, following which, at a press conference, it was expressed that France would “advocate” India’s case for acquiring civil nuclear energy with other European countries and the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).
“France will be India’s advocate with the international community for India acquiring civilian nuclear energy. India is considered a responsible nuclear power, which is sticking to IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) guidelines. So France will be the advocate,” Sarkozy said in response to a question.
When asked whether India’s discussions with IAEA were moving forward and whether they would be completed successfully soon, Manmohan Singh said: “One must recognize that international negotiations do take time. Our discussions with the IAEA are moving forward and can be concluded successfully without loss of further time.”
Signaling a breakthrough in strengthening bilateral ties, India and France signed an atomic energy cooperation pact. “We have signed a bilateral atomic energy cooperation pact,” Manmohan Singh said at the press conference. “France has agreed to support India for a permanent seat at the United Nation’s Security Council,” the prime minister said.
France will support India’s quest for removal of international bans over its nuclear capabilities, some of which are still in place, Manmohan Singh said.
“France wishes to build up international consensus to allow India to use nuclear energy,” Sarkozy said.
“India has never proliferated and it has made it clear that it wants to separate civil nuclear program from the military one,” he said. “France favors waiver to India to allow it to have access to civil nuclear energy. India has declared a moratorium on nuclear testing,” Sarkozy pointed out.
