NSG decision won't undermine N cooperation with India: France

New Delhi, Jul 1 (PTI) France, a key member of the
Nuclear Suppliers Group, Friday said the recent decision of
the 46-nation grouping to strengthen guidelines on transfer of
enrichment and reprocessing (ENR) technology would in no way
undermine its bilateral cooperation with India in the field.
French Ambassador to India Jerome Bonnafont said his
country is "committed to the full implementation" of the
cooperation agreement on the development of peaceful uses of
nuclear energy signed on September 30, 2008.
"France is strongly committed to the development of an
innovative, broad-based and dynamic civilian nuclear
cooperation with India and to mutually beneficial and
productive exchanges for both our countries," he said in a
statement here.
Referring to the decision of the 46-nation grouping
taken last week, the Ambassador said, "France confirms that
this NSG decision in no way undermines the parameters of our
bilateral cooperation" with India.
The statement comes two days after Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh told a group of editors here that French
President Nicolas Sarkozy had given an assurance to him about
full implementation of the nuclear agreement, including
transfer of sensitive technology.
Bonnafont said the decision taken by the NSG is not a
measure targeting any particular country.
"Coming after the decision of exemption from the
full-scope safeguards clause, adopted in favour of India in
September 2008, it does not undermine the principles of this
exemption (given to India)," the envoy stated.
He said France was "sensitive" to India's commitment to
non-proliferation and reaffirmed during the NSG Plenary
meeting its "full and complete support to India's adhesion to
this (NSG) Group".
France also supports India's membership of the four
multilateral export control regimes, as announced by Sarkozy
during his visit to India in December 2010. PTI AKK
KAP