India, France sign civil nuclear cooperation declaration

14 February 2006

BY OUR CORRESPONDENT

India and France have signed an agreement on civilian nuclear cooperation on Monday, who's parameters will be subject to "appropriate safeguards" agreements with the IAEA. According to the terms of the Declaration on Development of Nuclear Energy for Peaceful Purposes, the two sides have agreed to the "adjustment of international civil nuclear cooperation framework" with respect to India.

The agreement is expected to politically facilitate the PM's argument with Washington over the US nuclear deal. The Declaration avoids any mention of nuclear trade with India which will be brought up only after India successfully negotiates with the US.

The Declaration was signed by Atomic Energy Commission Chairman, Anil Kakodkar, and French Foreign Minister, Philippe Douste-Blazy, with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and French President, Jacques Chirac in attendance. Kakodkar is leading the opposition to the US deal.

The two sides have shown interest in expanding and strengthening their bilateral dialogue on peaceful uses of nuclear energy, subject to their "respective international commitments and obligations."

According to the agreement, "France and India will ensure that cooperation pursuant to the future agreement shall be exclusively for peaceful purposes and covered where applicable by appropriate safeguards with the IAEA."

Additionally, it said, "The cooperation agreement, and, as appropriate, subsequent specific agreements, will also address issues relating to inter alia confidentiality of information, third-party nuclear liability, intellectual property, measures relating to physical protection and retransfers to third states."

Chirac shows his support for India's bid for nuclear energy, saying the Indian economy should be allowed to develop without energy constraints, and that India should have access to civilian nuclear energy. However, both France and Russia have hesitated over a full-scale nuclear cooperation with India until NSG amended its rules.