New Delhi
21 January 2008
India and France have concluded the negotiations for a bilateral
agreement on civil nuclear cooperation but the pact will be signed and operationalised
after India wraps up a safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy
Agency (IAEA) and gets Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) nod.
Sources familiar with the negotiations between the Indian and the French governments
on Monday said that the bilateral pact, therefore, might not be signed during French
President Nicolas Sarkozy's State visit to India this week. Instead, both sides could
choose to iterate their intent to take an agreed framework for civil nuclear cooperation a
step further pending the required approvals.
The sources said that the French, who would like to clinch the pact as soon as possible,
have conveyed to their Indian counterparts that the text will be ready to be signed any
time India is ready to do so. "It will be India's choice," a source said, in an oblique
reference to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's reluctance to sign an agreement with
Russia for new nuclear reactors in spite of the Russians' willingness.
After the cancellation of the Eurocopter deal, the civil nuclear cooperation agreement
should have taken a pride of place in the French President Nicolas Sarkozy's maiden
visit to India. However, with barely a week to go for him to arrive here, Paris would not
any the more be certain given the opposition to the nuclear deal in India.
The sources said that both sides are nevertheless working on certain inter-governmental
agreements in the fields of defence and consular matters. The agreement in the defence
field is expected to be for upgrading the military equipment already being used by India.
Agreements between educational and research institutions is also likely.
The deliverables from the Sarkozy visit remain uncertain but both sides seem to have
overcome some of the protocol issues that have been engaging their attention. The
sources said that Ms Carla Bruni might not be by Mr Sarkozy's side for the Republic Day
parade although Elysee Palace (Palais de l'Élysée) has kept room for a "private"
engagement should she choose to join him in New Delhi.
The sources did not deny that, time permitting, Ms Bruni, Mr Sarkozy, or both, could
keep a date with the Taj Mahal by hopping off to Agra after the Republic Day parade but
before the At Home by President Pratibha Devisingh Patil at Rashtrapati Bhawan, on the
evening of January 26.
A source who is involved in the preparations for the Sarkozy visit explained that
decisions of this nature can be taken "at the last minute" before citing French officials as
saying that during former French President Jacques Chirac's term in office, it was not
certain till the very end whether his spouse will accompany him or not.
Mr Sarkozy will arrive here on January 25 and leave for Paris the next evening. A high-
power delegation comprising six ministers, six members of parliament, over 50 chief
executive officers of French businesses and personal invitees of the French President
will accompany Mr Sarkozy on his State visit to India.
The sources said that India and France can be expected to discuss defence cooperation
and certain pressing regional issues like the situation in Pakistan, the West Asian peace
process and the Iranian nuclear programme during the delegation level talks between
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Mr Sarkozy.
India has consistently said that the Iranian nuclear issue must be resolved in the IAEA.
However, France believes that newer United Nations Security Council sanctions on Iran
could be required because the Iranian government has not been responsive to the
demands of the international community.
A convergence of opinion between New Delhi and Paris is to the extent that they do not
desire a nuclear-armed Iran. An Iran with nuclear weapons is not acceptable for France,
although the French have indicated that they would be ready for a dialogue if the Iranians
comply with their treaty obligations.
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