- ‘The end of the world as we know it’ – October 23, 2008 (Sify.com)
During the press conference that followed the summit, the Indian Prime Minister made a statement which surprised many. India was not really alarmed by the latest developments as the meltdown primarily concerned the US and the West. Sarkozy immediately intervened to say that nobody would be immune and though the crisis may not touch India immediately, each and every nation would suffer at some point.
- India and France: From bonhomie to mon ami – October 3, 2008 (Rediff)
France and India were the first nations to sign an agreement for cooperation in the field of civil nuclear energy after a waiver was given by the Nuclear Security Group in Vienna. On the occasion of the visit of Dr Manmohan Singh to France on September 30, the document was inked by French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner and Anil Kakodkar, chairman of India’s Atomic Energy Commission.
- Interview Ranjan Mathai (Part II) – September 30, 2008
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is in France for a dialogue with leaders of the European Union and a summit with French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
In the first part of the interview with senior rediff.com contributor Claude Arpi, India’s Ambassador to France Ranjan Mathai discussed Indo-French nuclear cooperation.
- ‘India values its nuclear partnership with France, Russia’ – September 29, 2008 (Rediff.com)
After meeting President George W Bush in Washington, DC, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh flew to Marseille, France, for the yearly European Union-India Summit. Dr Singh will then arrive in Paris where he is expected to sign an agreement in the field of civil nuclear cooperation with French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
Senior rediff.com Contributor Claude Arpi spoke to Ranjan Mathai, India’s ambassador to France, to discuss not only the nuclear deal which will soon be operational and will have no other conditionality than the ones imposed by the Nuclear Suppliers Group waiver in Vienna [Images], but also all other aspects of the Indo-French relations, ten years after the signature of a privileged strategic partnership with France in January 1998.
- Not limited to America – September 29, 2008 (The Pionneer)
Whether one is in favour of or against the India-US nuclear deal, it remains a saga of paradoxes and ironies. The first paradox: Why is it called the ’US deal’? From the start, it has been a global deal. And the first irony: By the end of the month, a similar ’deal’ will be operational between France and India and a few weeks later between Russia and India (and this without any other conditionalities than those imposed by theIAEA and the NSG), while the ’US deal’ will still be waiting for the approval of the Congress.
- India-France relations set to move into high gear – Septmeber 28, 2998 (IANS)
With the India-US nuclear deal nearing congressional approval, India and France are expected to sign a bilateral civil nuclear cooperation pact that will restore nuclear business with France after a gap of more than three decades.
Though Indo-French relations have never had the high profile character of the Indo-US, this agreement will mark the culmination of ten years of a successful strategic partnership.
