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India, France to sign agreement on civil N-cooperation: Chirac

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

New Delhi, Feb. 17, IRNA
India-France-Nuke
France are "close" to reaching an agreement with India on civil nuclear cooperation but feels that "more work" is required on both sides, French President Jacques Chirac has said ahead of his visit here.

Chirac said recognition of a special status for India in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) is a "priority" to France.

The French President, who will arrive here on February 19 on a three-day State visit, in an interview to a leading "India Today" magazine voiced Paris' support for India in modifying NSG rules.

Asked about the controversy over the Arcelor case, Chirac said the company willing to takeover was a Dutch company, not an Indian one.

"The problem has nothing to do with L N Mittal. It is a Dutch company and Arcelor is a Luxembourg company. It has nothing to do with France and India."
Observing that the French Government is a "stakeholder, not a shareholder", he said "given the circumstances of the case, it would appear that it is not in the best interest of the company." He stated this on being asked if shareholders interest were better understood, would he have any objection to the bid."
On the nuclear issue, he said France was the first country to argue at international level in favour of India, as a responsible power, gaining access to civilian nuclear technologies.

Chirac said the process of consultation initiated by France, since the Indo-American declaration on July 18 last year, "continues today with the support of the American Administration and other major partners".

He said "recognition of a special status for India with respect to the NSG is a priority for us. We are close to reaching an agreement, but more work is required on both sides".

Asked why there was delay in the agreement since he considered India responsible, he said "because it is a multilateral issue, France stands firmly alongside India, a responsible power, in this question of modifying rules of the NSG.

"It is only if these modifications are allowed that we can reconcile our aim to cooperate in this area with the constraints imposed by our international undertakings. But before that, India must have a specific status with respect to the NSG to allow it access to the necessary technologies while respecting the principle of non- proliferation," he said.

Chirac said France has been trying for many years to persuade other members of the NSG.

"The main person who had to be persuaded was Bush but if we have to move forward, we still have to make efforts in the NSG and France is working on it," he said.

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