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Chirac, Narayanan discuss nuclear power

Sale of French nuclear reactors to India was one of the main issues on the agenda when President K R Narayanan met his French counterpart Jacques Chirac in Paris on Monday evening.

The meeting, which lasted nearly 70 minutes, took place at Palais Elysees, the official residence of the French President.

During the meeting, Chirac stressed the importance of nuclear energy for meeting India's energy requirements. Chirac told Narayanan that due to environmental concerns like global warming and pollution, nuclear power was one of the best options for India.

And in this context, Chirac offered French support for the development of peaceful applications of nuclear energy. France has been keen on selling nuclear power reactors to India and was specially miffed when India and Russia signed the Koodankoolam deal for the construction of two 1000 mw Russian design nuclear reactors.

Though France is restricted by its commitments to the Nuclear Suppliers Group, it has been increasingly talking openly of increasing the nuclear cooperation in civilian and peaceful applications. France derives over 75 per cent of its domestic power from nuclear reactors and is one of the few countries in the world where nuclear energy is yet to face widespread opposition.

Chirac once again stressed the importance of India signing and ratifying the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. "Chirac expressed his hope that India will find it possible to sign and ratify the CTBT since it would send a strong signal to the world community," Mansingh told reporters.

Narayanan responded by pointing out that signing the CTBT required consensus building and that the process was currently on in India and that the issue was likely to be discussed in the Indian Parliament soon.

Chirac expressed his satisfaction with the state of bilateral Indo-French relations. Foreign Secretary Lalit Mansingh said during the meeting bilateral, regional and international issues were discussed. Chirac expressed his understanding for the Indian concerns about cross-border terrorism. Though Mansingh refused to elaborate the content of the discussion, he said that the situation in Pakistan was also discussed in the meeting.

"No, I would not say so," is all he said when asked if there were any differences between the two Presidents' position on Pakistan.

The two leaders also discussed the situation in Afghanistan and the Indo-Chinese and Indo-US relations, in light of the recent visit by the US President Bill Clinton to India.

Chirac reiterated his support to India's candidature for permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council.

"It would be a very difficult issue in New York but the French position is very clear. France very clearly and openly supports Indian candidature," Chirac told Narayanan.

Bilateral defence ties were also discussed at the meeting. The two countries hope to conclude outstanding defence issues, including the sale of Mirage aircraft, before the visit of the French defence minister Alain Richard to New Delhi in the third week of May.

Incidentally, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff committee, General Kelche is visiting India on April 26.

On the cultural side, Narayanan brought up the issue of setting up an Indian cultural centre in France, on the lines of the Japan Cultural House located in the heart of Paris, at the footsteps of Eiffel Tower. Chirac expressed his support to the idea.

EARLIER REPORT
President faces crucial meeting with Jacques Chirac

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