France, India sign nuclear deal

France, India sign civil nuclear cooperation deal
WATCH VIDEO
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.

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.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• France
• India

[evilezek1el]

Well said NUMBER 4940, but let me guarantee u that it happened first time in history that a country's been given nuclear supplies without NPT!!

India is more than trusty! Instead abt arms race, u can clearly see the dramatic changes, but they remain signed to NPT!

[NUMBER4940]

It comes down to who do you trust and also, a childish "well if others are taking a piece of the pie, i want a piece too" just like she said. personally i trust India, but what do I know. my enemy's friend is not necessarily my enemy after all. india, i hear, is in desperate need of power. the US is spoiled with widespread electricity. not so for 400 million indians.

[TheAmericanDesi]

Ummmm this is biased news. Cant you tell by the gook announcer's accent?

HERRO....YOU WAN POK FLIED LICE???

[shiragi992]

India is a sucker for Europe.  But that's where they can find their niche. It is a pretty unfortunate situation.

[gunjitsingh]

How in the world will 2 pacts to build nuclear power plants start a nuclear arms race? Besides, India would win any arms race, have you seen our Gods!