India must be on UN Security Council: French foreign minister

France has urged India to take all possible steps to encourage and strengthen the forces of moderation in Pakistan and said it supports India's membership in the United Nations Security Council.

Speaking to rediff.com in Paris, the French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine said France understands the difficulties that exist in the Indo-Pakistan dialogue, but that the world should not lose the sight of the global consequences of an aggravated crisis in Pakistan.

"I am thinking of the spread of Islamic extremism, terrorism, drug-trafficking and, above all, nuclear weapons. Thus, it is in the interest of everyone to favour stability in Pakistan. It is, first of all, the responsibility of the Pakistanis themselves, but we hope India too will do all it can to encourage moderate forces in Pakistani society,'' Vedrine said.

Vedrine is to visit New Delhi next week for a two-day trip, hailed as a significant development in Indo-French ties.

Developments in Pakistan and the lack of progress in Indo-Pakistani ties are expected to be a crucial part of Vedrine's agenda when he meets External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh in New Delhi. He is also scheduled to call on Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

But Vedrine's views on the restoration of democracy in Pakistan after the military coup by General Pervez Musharraf may disconcert Indian leaders. When the coup occurred, most Western countries, including France, had expressed deep concern, but had advocated that General Musharraf be given some time to revive Pakistani institutions rather than condemn the coup right away. Senior French officials had also suggested that six months might be sufficient to gauge the general's true intentions.

Vedrine told rediff.com that the French position hasn't changed.

"We are closely following all the moves General Musharraf makes,'' is all he would say when asked if France had changed its view since there was no sign of democracy being restored in Pakistan.

On Kashmir, Indian leaders will find him more reassuring.

"The question of Kashmir, that was apparently simple at Partition, has become much more complex over the last 50 years. I must add that a recourse to violence, often supported from outside, and infiltration across the line of control have cast doubt on the real intentions of one and the other. But since the Shimla Accord of 1972, France, like the European Union, believes the Kashmir issue can be solved only through bilateral dialogue between India and Pakistan.''

On Indo-French ties, Vedrine, who was part of the delegation led by President Jacques Chirac in January 1998, said that, at that time, India and France were emerging from a phase of mutual indifference, barring the odd summit meeting.

Since then, France and India have decided to engage in a stable and durable partnership, Vedrine said, adding that considerable progress had been made on all fronts in two years.

"Our dialogue in all domains has acquired a confidence and substance that was never there before. France and India hope to become major partners in a multipolar world and I feel we have advanced along this path,'' Vedrine said.

On India's place in the world, Vedrine says that, going by the traditional vision, India was a regional power of the Third World, noted on the international scene for its role in the non-aligned movement.

But after the Cold War, the place it occupies in international organisations and its vigorous economy have increased India's importance, he said, adding that India was one of the six or seven major powers of the multipolar world and also the biggest democracy.

"It is taking into account this reality that we have encouraged the establishment of a global, long-term Indo-French partnership,'' said Vedrine, adding that India should become a permanent member in a reformed and enlarged United Nations Security Council.

"This is evidence of the importance we attach to our relations with India and to the extent India can rely on us to gain its rightful place,'' he says.

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