La visite du président Chirac en Inde à donné lieu à discours et déclarations communes que nous mettons aujourd'hui en ligne pour tous nos lecteurs que cela intéresserait. Il s'agit de la Déclaration générale conjointe signée par les ministres des Affaires étrangères français et indien, Déclaration de la France et de l'Inde sur le développement de l'énergie nucléaire à des fins pacifiques et du Joint Press Interaction by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and President of France Jacques Chirac...

 

 

 

 Déclaration générale conjointe signée par les ministres des Affaires étrangères français et indien

- New Delhi, 20 février 2006 -

La visite du président de la République, M. Jacques Chirac, en Inde aujourd'hui, qui fait suite à la visite en France du Premier ministre, M. Manmohan Singh, en septembre 2005, reflète clairement la volonté des deux pays de faire avancer leur partenariat stratégique en renforçant leur coopération bilatérale dans un large éventail de secteurs, notamment politique, économique, de la défense, spatial, de l'énergie nucléaire civile, de l'éducation et de la recherche.

Les deux parties sont convenues d'intensifier les visites bilatérales et les consultations à haut niveau, dans leurs différents domaines de coopération, afin de consolider leur partenariat stratégique global.

Alors que l'Inde aborde une période de développement économique rapide, ses relations avec la France en matière de commerce et d'investissement se diversifient. Les deux gouvernements déploieront tous leurs efforts pour accroître le volume des investissements et le nombre de sociétés mixtes, dans chacun des deux pays, ainsi que pour concrétiser le fort potentiel de renforcement des partenariats entre entreprises dans les secteurs identifiés comme prioritaires dans leur Déclaration conjointe du 12 septembre 2005. Ils favoriseront également une croissance vigoureuse et continue de leurs échanges bilatéraux, avec l'objectif d'un doublement du commerce bilatéral d'ici cinq ans.

Les petites et moyennes entreprises ont un rôle important à jouer à cet égard et les deux gouvernements ont décidé de prendre des mesures spécifiques pour approfondir la coopération entre entreprises, avec une particulière attention aux PME.
Les gouvernements français et indien engageront un dialogue sur les champs de coopération possibles en matière de droits de propriété intellectuelle.

Les deux parties ont rappelé la déclaration conjointe du 12 septembre 2005, dans laquelle elles étaient convenues de travailler à la conclusion d'un accord de coopération bilatéral dans le domaine du nucléaire civil. Elles ont souligné que la Déclaration conjointe relative à la coopération en matière d'énergie nucléaire civile, publiée aujourd'hui, est un pas important vers la réalisation de cet objectif et vers le développement de la coopération mise en œuvre de longue date entre la France et l'Inde dans le secteur de l'énergie nucléaire civile. Elles sont convenues de continuer à œuvrer ensemble pour atteindre cet objectif.
Les deux dirigeants se sont félicités que l'Inde rejoigne, en tant que partenaire à part entière, le projet de réacteur expérimental thermonucléaire international (ITER).

La France et l'Inde ont également signé un Accord sur la coopération dans le domaine de la Défense. Cet accord constitue un élément important du partenariat stratégique entre les deux pays, qui vient renforcer la coopération dans les domaines de la défense et militaire, de l'industrie de défense, de la production, de l'acquisition et de la recherche et du développement concernant le matériel de défense, des exercices conjoints, des échanges et de la formation professionnelle.

La France et l'Inde, deux des pays les plus en pointe dans ce domaine, poursuivent de longue date une coopération fructueuse dans le secteur spatial. Le récent succès du lancement du satellite INSAT 4A par Ariane 5G depuis Kourou, en Guyane, témoigne de leur étroite coopération bilatérale. La mission satellite conjointe MEGHA-TROPIQUES progresse également de manière satisfaisante.

Les deux parties ont réaffirmé l'importance du Partenariat stratégique entre l'Inde et l'Union européenne et sont convenues d'œuvrer ensemble en faveur d'un resserrement des liens à travers le Plan d'action conjoint entre l'Union européenne et l'Inde.
Le président de la République française a réaffirmé le ferme appui de son pays à la candidature de l'Inde à un siège de membre permanent au Conseil de sécurité. La France et l'Inde partagent les mêmes points de vue sur les grands enjeux internationaux et appellent à la réforme du système des Nations Unies, afin de le rendre plus représentatif et mieux à même de relever les défis mondiaux, traditionnels et nouveaux.

Le Premier ministre indien s'est félicité de l'initiative prise par le président français d'élargir le consensus international sur les financements innovants du développement. L'Inde se félicite également de la décision prise par la France d'instaurer une contribution de solidarité sur les billets d'avion afin de soutenir la lutte que mènent les pays en développement contre le VIH/sida, la tuberculose et le paludisme, y compris en mettant en place une facilité internationale d'achats de médicaments à laquelle les industries pharmaceutiques de leurs deux pays pourraient participer. L'Inde est prête à étudier les modalités d'un tel prélèvement, ainsi qu'à participer au Groupe d'action sur les prélèvements de solidarité internationaux qui doit être mis en place lors de la prochaine conférence de Paris.

La France et l'Inde condamnent fermement le terrorisme sous toutes ses formes et manifestations, qui constitue l'une des plus graves menaces pour la paix et la sécurité internationales. Il y a une nécessité croissante de coordonner et intensifier la coopération bilatérale, régionale et internationale afin de combattre le terrorisme de manière soutenue et globale. Les liens du terrorisme avec le trafic illicite de drogue, d'armes de petits calibres, de stupéfiants et d'armes de destruction massive ont renforcé sa capacité de destruction et sa portée meurtrière. Le président de la République française et le Premier ministre indien ont réaffirmé leur volonté de travailler ensemble dans la lutte contre le terrorisme et de déployer des efforts concertés dans la perspective d'une conclusion rapide de la Convention générale sur le terrorisme international.

Les deux parties ont également réaffirmé leur volonté d'intensifier leur coopération dans les domaines des sciences et technologies, des échanges éducatifs, universitaires et culturels, du tourisme ainsi que dans d'autres secteurs d'intérêt mutuel qui présentent encore un fort potentiel à exploiter. Les accords et les arrangements administratifs signés aujourd'hui illustrent la variété des collaborations bilatérales entre la France et l'Inde et joueront un rôle moteur pour tirer pleinement parti du partenariat stratégique global entre les deux pays.

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Déclaration de la France et de l'Inde sur le développement de l'énergie nucléaire à des fins pacifiques

- New Delhi, 20 février 2006 -

La France et l'Inde, rappelant leurs liens profonds d'amitié et de coopération et l'importance du dialogue stratégique établi entre les deux pays en janvier 1998, reconnaissent que l'énergie atomique constitue une source d'énergie sûre, respectueuse de l'environnement et durable. Elles soulignent la nécessité de développer plus avant la coopération internationale en encourageant l'utilisation de l'énergie nucléaire à des fins pacifiques. Elles estiment que l'énergie nucléaire représentera une source d'énergie indispensable pour les générations futures.

La France et l'Inde considèrent que la prolifération des armes nucléaires, chimiques et biologiques, ainsi que de leurs vecteurs, constitue une menace pour la paix et la sécurité internationales. Elles partagent des préoccupations et des objectifs communs dans le domaine de la non-prolifération des armes de destruction massive et de leurs vecteurs, y compris en ce qui concerne les liens éventuels avec le terrorisme.

La France et l'Inde rappellent leurs échanges passés sur l'énergie nucléaire civile. Elles se félicitent du développement, depuis l'instauration du dialogue stratégique, d'un dialogue bilatéral fructueux sur la coopération en matière de nucléaire civil et sur la sûreté nucléaire, et de projets communs résultant de ce dialogue qui sont conformes à leurs obligations et engagements internationaux respectifs.

Elles ont rappelé que la déclaration commune publiée par le président de la République française et le Premier ministre de la République de l'Inde le 12 septembre 2005 faisait état de ce que la France et l'Inde s'emploieraient à conclure un accord bilatéral de coopération nucléaire. La France et l'Inde affirment leur volonté de développer davantage leur coopération en matière d'utilisation de l'énergie nucléaire à des fins exclusivement pacifiques en application de cet accord, notamment pour la production d'électricité d'origine nucléaire dans une perspective de développement durable.

La France et l'Inde rappellent le cadre du groupe de travail bilatéral sur l'énergie établi en janvier 1998, du comité conjoint franco-indien pour l'énergie atomique créé par le memorendum d'accord du 16 septembre 2002 signé par l'Atomic Energy Comission (AEC) pour l'Inde et par le Commissariat à l'énergie atomique (CEA) pour la France, et du dialogue entre leurs autorités de sûreté nucléaire instauré par l'arrangement du 29 juillet 1999 et reconduit par l'arrangement du 24 octobre 2005 entre l'Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) pour l'Inde et la Direction générale de la Sûreté nucléaire et de la Radioprotection (DGSNR) pour la France.

Elles expriment leur volonté d'étendre et de renforcer leur dialogue bilatéral sur les utilisations pacifiques de l'énergie nucléaire.

Conformément aux principes qui gouvernent leurs politiques nucléaires respectives, la France et l'Inde confirment qu'elles ont entamé des pourparlers en vue de conclure un accord bilatéral de coopération pour le développement de l'énergie nucléaire à des fins pacifiques, sous réserve de leurs obligations et engagements internationaux respectifs. La France et l'Inde espèrent un ajustement en faveur de l'Inde du cadre de coopération internationale en matière de nucléaire civil et confirme leur intention d'œuvrer à cette fin pour que l'accord puisse être intégralement mis en œuvre.

A cet égard la France et l'Inde partagent la même compréhension de ce qui suit :

1) la coopération en application du futur accord pourra couvrir les domaines suivants : recherche fondamentale et appliquée ne requérant pas la fourniture d'uranium enrichi à vingt (20) pour cent ou plus en isotope U235 ; développement et utilisation des applications de l'énergie nucléaire dans les domaines de l'agronomie, de la biologie, des sciences de la terre et de la médecine, et dans l'industrie ; application de l'énergie nucléaire à la production d'électricité, notamment le lancement de projets de centrales électriques ; gestion du combustible nucléaire ; gestion des déchets nucléaires ; sûreté nucléaire ; radioprotection et protection de l'environnement ; prévention et réponse aux situations d'urgence résultant d'accidents radiologiques ou nucléaires ; sensibilisation du public aux avantages de l'utilisation de l'énergie nucléaire à des fins exclusivement pacifiques ; et tout autre domaine convenu d'un commun accord entre les parties à cet accord.

2) La coopération en application du futur accord pourra prendre les formes suivantes : échange et formation de personnel scientifique et technique ; échange d'informations scientifiques et techniques ; participation de personnel scientifique et technique de l'une des parties à des activités de recherche et de développement menées par l'autre partie ; conduite en commun d'activités de recherche et d'ingénierie, y compris des recherches et expérimentations conjointes (c'est à dire pour lesquelles les moyens mis en place par les deux parties sont équivalents) ; organisation de conférences et de colloques scientifiques et techniques ; fourniture de matières nucléaires ; équipements ; technologie ; installations et services ; consultations et coopération au sein des enceintes internationales compétentes ; et toute autre forme de coopération convenue d'un commun accord entre les parties à cet accord.

3) Les accords déjà signés entre les institutions compétentes des deux pays telles que le Departement of Atomic Energy (DAE) et le CEA ; le Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC) et l'Institut de la Radioprotection et de la Sûreté nucléaire (IRSN) ; l'AERB et la DGSNR dans le domaine de l'énergie atomique, s'inscriront dans le cadre de cet accord et continueront à être mis en œuvre comme actuellement.

4) La France et l'Inde feront en sorte que la coopération en application du futur accord soit menée à des fins exclusivement pacifiques et soit couverte, lorsque cela est applicable, par des accords de garanties appropriés avec l'AIEA. L'accord de coopération, et en tant que de besoin, des accords spécifiques ultérieurs, traiteront également les questions relatives entre autres à la confidentialité de l'information, à la responsabilité civile nucléaire des parties tierces, à la propriété intellectuelle, aux mesures concernant la protection physique et aux re-transferts vers des Etats tiers.

Fait à New Delhi, le vingt février deux mille six, en langues française et anglaise.

Pour la République française : M. Philippe Douste-Blazy, Ministre des Affaires étrangères
Pour la République de l'Inde : M. Anil Kakodkar, Président de la Commission de l'énergie atomique

 

 

 

Joint Press Interaction by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and President of France Jacques Chirac

- Hyderabad House, New Delhi 20th of February 2006 -
 
Your Excellency President Chirac,
Ladies and gentlemen of the press,

It is a privilege to welcome President Chirac and his distinguished delegation to India.

Our relations with France, a global power and one of the anchors of our ties with the European Union, are special and privileged. President Chirac is a respected senior world statesman and a true friend of India. The vibrant strategic partnership that we enjoy today was initiated during President Chirac's visit to India in 1998 and strengthened with his guidance and leadership.

Last year, I met President Chirac twice, in Paris and Gleneagles. We are indeed extremely happy that the positive momentum in our relations has been maintained and strengthened by President Chirac's current visit to India.

Our discussions today have been very useful in taking forward our partnership. The range of Agreements signed today provide an indication of the extensive and substantive engagement between India and France. We have also issued a Joint Statement that clearly indicates the direction in which our strategic partnership will proceed.

The Declaration on Cooperation in the development of Nuclear Energy for Peaceful Purposes and the Agreement on Defence Cooperation are among the most important outcomes of the visit. We appreciate France's support for the ongoing effort to enable full civilian nuclear energy cooperation between India and the international community. President Chirac was one of the first world leaders to support such an initiative and I thank him for his strong and consistent leadership on a matter of great importance for India's energy security.

Cooperation in the space sector is another important aspect of our relations with France, which is progressing well. We also deeply appreciate France's support to India's candidature for permanent membership of the UN Security Council.

The economic engagement between India and France is an important element of our Strategic Partnership. It is my hope that trade and investment will continue to grow. There are significant complementarities between our economies and we must make all efforts to exploit the existing untapped potential. French companies should take advantage of the immense opportunities offered by India's rapid economic growth and science and technology potential. Last September in Paris, the President and I had expressed our resolve to double bilateral trade within 5 years. We identified infrastructure, IT, pharmaceuticals, environment, advanced and new technologies, food processing, automobiles and aeronautics as priority sectors for forging business partnerships.

We also discussed ways to further strengthen our bilateral relationship. France and India share common views on a range of regional and global issues. We reiterated our commitment to work together to address global challenges. We continue to cooperate in fighting terrorism, on non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, in promoting sustainable development, and in the effective management of globalization.

India supports President Chirac's initiative for looking at innovative sources of financing to tackle diseases such as HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria, which afflict millions the world over. We recognized that Indian pharmaceutical companies have emerged as global leaders in the fight against these diseases.

President Chirac's visit is another milestone in the expansion of our civilizational ties that are based on mutual trust and shared values. Once again, Mr. President, a very warm welcome to you and the distinguished members of your delegation.

{The above statement was circulated at the Joint Press Interaction}

PRIME MINISTER MANMOHAN SINGH: President Chirac; distinguished members of the French delegation; ladies and gentlemen:

It is an honour for me and for my colleagues in the Government of India to welcome President Chirac in our country. India and France have a very close strategic relationship. In recent years this relationship has gone from strength to strength to a large extent because of the personal interest and involvement of President Jacques Chirac in fostering closer cooperation between our two countries.

Mr. President, in you we have a world statesman of rare wisdom, knowledge and experience and it is a proud privilege of our country to count as a very dear and special friend of our country.

Today marks another landmark in the development of our relationship. We have signed nine Agreements or Memoranda of Understanding. These include such vital areas as cooperation in the field of civilian nuclear energy, defence cooperation, cooperation in the field of space, cooperation in the field of education, science and technology, and culture. In all these respects the process that we have set in motion today will ensure in years to come a far more productive, a far more durable, a far more mutually beneficial relationship between our two countries.

We have discussed developments in the global political and economic scene. We have also had a very fruitful discussion on regional and bilateral issues. I am very glad to report that there is complete convergence of views on all these important matters between our two countries.

Mr. President, your landmark visit has opened up new pathways of cooperation between our two countries and I thank you from the core of my heart for having found time to visit us.

PRESIDENT CHIRAC: Prime Minister; ladies and gentlemen:

First of all allow me to thank the Prime Minister and the Indian authorities once again for the extraordinary warm welcome extended to us since our arrival here in India. We, that is to say myself and my delegation, have been especially touched by this hospitality and this generosity. In particular I refer to the hospitality I enjoyed yesterday on the part of the Prime Minister.

We are two countries, two nations, that have indeed much in common; countries that have in common longstanding old culture; countries that are deeply attached to our national independence; countries that share the same ideals of democracy and respect to human rights; and countries that recognise the importance of abiding by the rule of international law as enshrined in the United Nations Charter.

We also uphold other values in common such as the importance of secularism, a concern for the need to help the world’s poorest countries in their development effort. Let me make an aside here to underscore the importance I attach to India’s endorsement and support for initiative on innovative financing, an innovative funding front. In fact the Prime Minister has told me that India is going to be sending a ministerial representation to the forthcoming Paris Conference on this topic. So, we are countries that indeed share a lot in common, values and beliefs.

We, of course, have discussed during the course of our meeting, a number of topics with the Prime Minister. We examined, for instance, our respective points of view which I might add were extremely convergent, on the subject of India’s access to civilian nuclear technology. This access, we feel on the side of France, is indeed necessary in order to drive and fuel India’s economic development without at one and the same time leading to excessive pollution which would arrive from large-scale emission of greenhouse gases.

We at the same time fully understand on the French side the concerns and the constraints faced by the Indian authorities and Indian Government, be they of an economic nature or they have to do with India’s national independence and security constraints and needs. Here there has been once again no divergence or difference of opinion between us.

We, as you saw, have also agreed to sign, you are witness to this fact, a defence agreement which further consolidates our cooperation in the defence arena showing thus a strengthening of solidarity both in terms of defence and in terms of procurement of equipment - military procurement.

We covered a range of economic and trade issues. I think it is very striking to note that there is a shared commitment on both sides - commitment that also has to be stepped up and increased on both sides - to increasing trade flows and economic ties between our two countries.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the captains of industry, members of the French business community who have come along with me on this trip and who will be attending the economic forum which the Prime Minister and I are organising this afternoon, as you know. As a result of this commitment, as a result of these agreements and of this cooperation, we have set to ourselves the lofty goal of doubling, increasing two-fold, within the next five years the trade flows between our two countries.

That is all. This whole scale strengthening of our ties be they of a political or economic nature, the ties that link India to France and France to India, I think are being borne out as evident by all these agreements and by the series of understandings that have characterised our thought.

I wish lastly, once again to avail myself of the opportunity of thanking the Prime Minister, the Indian authorities for their warm welcome, for the hospitality, and indeed for the Indian President for the magnificent ceremony that was laid out for us this morning.

QUESTION (FRENCH MEDIA): President, Sir, Mr. Mittal has been stepping up the number of interviews that he has been giving and statements that he has been making in which he had deplored what he called the hostile welcome that he has received or the hostile reactions that he has come up against in France. He says that he has been misinterpreted, misunderstood, and he has even referred to possible xenophobia in respect of this attitude. Would you, if you have the opportunity to meet him, wish to clear up any misunderstanding arising as a result of this?

PRESIDENT CHIRAC: I would really have difficulty in understanding this controversy. Just look at it as it stands right now. Clearly it involves two parties, two sides. On the one hand we have a British citizen, Indian born British national, who is taking an initiative vis-à-vis a Dutch company and a Luxembourg company. Therefore, as things stand right now, as we see things unfold, all we know is that a hostile bid has been made by the person in question which is of a purely financial nature. There has been no presentation of any kind of industrial plan, industrial development plan. There has been no prior consultation, which is in fact contrary to usual practice in such matters.

That being said, it is his right to be so and to act in this manner as it is equally the right of Europeans to care about their job, their future and the technologies involved, of what the future holds in store for them. We know, as I have already said, nothing more than what I have said that this is a financial offer, this is a hostile bid. We do not know anything about the content of what is intended. Therefore, we will wait and see. We are not prejudging anything. But this is the gist of what the Europeans have been saying to their shareholders, the European companies have been saying to their shareholders.

Now, we have nothing against in principle, absolutely nothing against, a non-European bidding on a European company or enterprise. Far from it. All I am saying is that we are waiting to see what the bid, what the offer, actually involves before we pass judgement on it or before we have anything to say on the subject. Therefore, I think that the concerns that have been expressed are entirely legitimate and I repeat what I said at the outset. I do not understand what all the fuss is about. I do not understand what the controversy is about.

QUESTION (PARUL MALHOTRA, CNN-IBN): This is a question for both the Prime Minister and President Chirac, on the same issue.
President Chirac, Sir, you have just clarified some of your position on that. Could you confirm if the bid is assessed as unhealthy for the company in question Arcelor, would your Government take any direct or indirect action to block that?
Prime Minister, Sir, did you raise this issue in your talks with the President? Do you believe that racism or protectionism has had any role to play in this matter?
PRESIDENT CHIRAC: Madam, if that is what you have understood, I would say that you have misunderstood. I repeat what I said earlier on. We do not act nor have we any intention of acting, against a company or procedure. The situation as it stands right now is that quite simply a hostile bid has been made contrary to practice, with no prior explanation, no reasons given, on a large company, European company. As I said, we were given no reasons for this bid, we have no notion of what intention lies ahead for the company in question. There is no plan that has been presented. Presently we are standing by and waiting for such explanations to be given. As a result when they come, and if they come, we will act in accordance with a set number of principles and values and in particular the independence and respecting and upholding the independence of the private sector.

PRIME MINISTER MANMOHAN SINGH: Question was asked, ‘Did I raise this issue with the President?’ Yes, this matter did come up during our discussion. The President explained the positions in detail. It is my hope that a fair decision, taking into account the interests of all the stakeholders, will be taken in this matter.

QUESTION (FRENCH MEDIA): This is a two-fold question to the President and the Prime Minister.
Mr. President, France has been very active in striving to achieve for India access to civilian nuclear technology, access to a status whereby it could access civilian nuclear technology. If the outcome to all of this is successful, and if indeed the international community goes along with it, what makes you believe that French companies would get, would win the contracts and the bids that would necessarily flow from such a decision. Could it not be American companies or other companies rather than France or French companies?
Prime Minister, Sir, would you be prepared, were all of this to go through, to place the installations and facilities in question, the programmes and the development of these programmes, under strict IAEA safeguards as indeed is mentioned in the agreement that has just been signed?

PRESIDENT CHIRAC: I said earlier on exactly what France’s position was on this matter. France is supportive of India. It is supportive of India as a function of two principles, the first being a moral issue, a moral principle. India must be allowed to achieve its necessary economic development without facing a stranglehold of economic constraints and energy constraints. The second is an environmental principle - principle of safeguarding the environment. In other words India, which is a responsible country, a responsible nation, should be able to produce the energy that it needs for its own development without, at one and the same time this having a negative fallout or impact on the world as a whole as a result of greenhouse gas emission.

We equally understand India’s position in this connection. We are supportive of India in this position. We know that India has a number of constraints, a number of objectives. Some of these objectives are also economic ones. But what France … or France’s support for India is a matter of principle. Of course, there will be, there is, somewhere along the line, the issue of Franco-Indian economic cooperation, on this particular front and I hope that there will be cooperation, enhanced cooperation between our two countries. But I repeat that has nothing to do with it because our support to India is principled support. It has nothing to do with economic cooperation, ties or development.

PRIME MINISTER MANMOHAN SINGH: We are very grateful to President Chirac and the Government of France for the principled position they have taken in promoting cooperation between India and the members of the Nuclear Suppliers Group relating to facilities, material covered by the nuclear field. As far as India is concerned, we are committed to honouring in letter and spirit the statement that I and President Bush jointly signed on 18th of July.

A question was asked about any international facilities that may become available to India through processes of enhanced international cooperation. I confirm that all facilities procured by India through international cooperation for civilian nuclear energy will, of course, be subject to safeguards. I am talking of any facility that may become available to India in the future through international cooperation, they will be of course subject to safeguards under the International Atomic Energy Agency.

QUESTION (RAJEEV SHARMA, THE TRIBUNE): My question is to President Chirac. France entered into strategic partnership with India in 1998. How has this strategic partnership evolved over the past eight years? Do you believe that the civilian nuclear energy cooperation agreement can act as perfect icing on the cake of this strategic partnership? What are the difficulties in its implementation?

PRESIDENT CHIRAC: France indeed, as you rightly said, entered in 1998 into a strategic cooperation agreement with India. This cooperation agreement was based on a number of principles which I listed earlier on and on a number of common interests. Since that day, since 1998, our relations have been constantly strengthening. They are longstanding, they are permanent and they are very close in a wide variety of different fields. At the international level you know that we have always been extremely supportive of India’s bid to a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council and we will continue to be so. You know that we are supportive of India’s bid to be able to develop its own nuclear electricity-generating programme. We have strong political comfort on a number of important political issues. We share many views in common as far as world affairs are concerned. In fact on most issues on the world scene we have convergent views. Our economic ties as you have heard have also been constantly tightening over the past eight years and I hope that they will continue to do so in the years to come. So, this is the short answer to your question. Yes, I do believe that these relationships, this agreement has been seen to strengthen. These relations are becoming ever tighter, ever closer between India and France, something that the Prime Minister further confirmed to me today. We hope that this would continue in the future, which I cannot but applaud on my side.