France, India sign civil nuclear cooperation deal

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Source: CCTV.com | 10-01-2008 11:01

France and India have signed a deal allowing French companies to sell civilian nuclear technology to India. It follows a similar pact between India and the US, which opponents fear will spark an atomic arms race.

French Foreign Affairs minister Bernard Kouchner (R) and Chairman of India's Atomic Energy Commission Anil Kakodkar (L) sign a cooperation agreement between France and India  for the development of civilian nuclear technology as  France's President Nicolas Sarkozy (back R) and Indian  Prime Minister Manmohan Singh look on at the Elysee  Palace in Paris September 30, 2008. REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer (FRANCE)

The deal is the highlight of meetings in Paris between French President Nicolas Sarkozy and India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

It comes days after the United States House of Representatives passed a similar pact. The US Senate must still approve the deal, which would allow the US to provide nuclear materials to India.

Singh declined to speak to reporters following Tuesday's talks, and French officials insist it is up to India to define the scope of its energy needs.

India has an arsenal of nuclear weapons, which it built outside the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

The nation has refused to sign nonproliferation agreements and has faced a nuclear trade ban since its first atomic test in 1974.

The 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group of countries that supply nuclear material and technology agreed in September to lift the ban on civilian nuclear trade with India.

France, which relies heavily on nuclear power, is expected to compete with the US, Japan and Russia for a slice of the Indian market.

Opponents of the two deals say opening India to new nuclear material would spark an atomic arms race in Asia. They also say the deals act as an incentive to Iran to continue work on its uranium enrichment program.

Editor:Du Xiaodan