France for increasing civil nuclear cooperation with India

France on Thursday said it wanted to increase civil nuclear cooperation with India, but only after New Delhi implemented the legal framework.

''We want to move further, but first we need India to sign an agreement with the nuclear watchdog, International Atomic Energy Agency, and also to negotiate the exemption agreement with the Nuclear Suppliers' Group,'' visiting French Minister for Higher Education and Research Valerie Pecresse told a press conference in New Delhi.

''We need the legal framework to be implemented before going ahead with the nuclear cooperation with India,'' she said.

Asked why France was insisting on the IAEA agreement now when it had earlier not done so while having collaboration on the fast breeder reactor programme, she said international laws had changed.

''So we have to respect international laws.'' To a question on the Indo-US nuclear deal, she said she did not want to interfere in Indian politics.

UNI