Why the World backs the deal

In the context of the debate on India's opening up to international civil nuclear cooperation, it is useful to recall why France, which fully respects India's sovereign choices, considered it important to engage with the latter and France's partners for the definition of a specific international civilian nuclear regime combining conformity to the rules of non-proliferation with energy security and fighting global warming. Ten years ago, France and India decided to establish a strategic partnership. The French president declared on the occasion of his state visit to India in January 1998, "I have come to propose to you that we build a strong relation between our two countries, a global partnership erected on our complementary qualities and common interests." He also said, "India can count on France to help face some of the greatest challenges that your country is confronted with in its development... The cooperation could also focus, when the time comes, on the production of nuclear power." This strategic partnership was strongly reaffirmed by President Nicolas Sarkozy and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, when the French president was the guest of honour for India's Republic Day. A deliberation took shape: How to enable India, the world's fifth highest primary energy consumer, to have access to nuclear technology, equipment and material necessary for its civil nuclear programme while conforming to the principles of non-proliferation, despite the fact that India has not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty? France shared these deliberations with India and many of its partners, including the United States. India, from its side, undertook more commitments on non-proliferation. Thus, conditions for the adaptation of international practice in India's favour were met. Gradually, a global mechanism was formulated, constituted of a series of bilateral and multilateral draft agreements, which enables India, if it so chooses, to re-enter into civil nuclear cooperation. The Indo-US nuclear deal constitutes an unprecedented global offer made to India by the international community. France, Russia, the US, and many other countries, could help India accelerate the development of its civil nuclear programme without undermining India's sovereign choices while conforming to international rules on non-proliferation. However, in order that this cooperation may be concretised, India and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) must first conclude a safeguards agreement, and the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) must then make the resumption of exports to India possible - and France will work within the group towards this - through an ad hoc exemption from its directives. It is in this context that, in 2005 and 2006, France and India set the new foundations for their civil nuclear cooperation. In January this year, during the state visit of President Sarkozy, the two countries finalised the negotiations for an intergovernmental agreement in this area. What does this agreement cover? Renewing our joint efforts in fundamental and applied research, to begin with, in preparation of tomorrow's technological choices. It is essential to bring the scientists of both countries and their respective research organisations even closer. Satyendra Bose, C V Raman, Homi Bhabha, Marie Curie and Frederic Joliot-Curie did not conceive of research without sharing experiences with their colleagues from other countries. This tradition must be continued. Next, improve nuclear safety, without which no nuclear programme can be sustainable. And research, training, lessons learnt from experience, which are indispensable for preventing accidents, and in such an event, tackling these. Our safety cooperation will be strengthened. Last but not the least, resumption of industrial and commercial cooperation on a large-scale for which France, and French companies from the nuclear sector, command a know-how and experience unique in the world. France will propose its nuclear reactor technology to India, of course, but can also contribute to its uranium supply. France is in a position to provide services related to nuclear fuel manage-ment and to share with India its vast experience in the design, construction and operation of 58 nuclear reactors of 1,000 MW and more. France and India have consented to sign the agreement once the negotiations with the IAEA are concluded and a special regime is adopted within the NSG. I would like to conclude with a thought on the French energy model which could be interesting in view of the choices being offered to India. In the early 1970s, France decided to prioritise the use of nuclear energy and to open itself to international cooperation to attain this end. Today, 42 per cent of its primary energy consumption and 80 per cent of its electricity generation are taken care of by nuclear energy at competitive prices. France thus reinforced its independence, while becoming one of the European countries with the lowest per capita CO2 emissions. This choice has also been made by other countries like the US, Russia, the UK, which share the same vision of the role that nuclear energy must play in the 21st century to face the challenges to the planet. That is why an international offer was made to India, which is the basis of the proposed nuclear agreement. It is an agreement that France considers to be good for the world and for India. The writer is France's ambassador to India.