French Minister to discuss defence contracts

By Vaiju Naravane

PARIS MAY 17. The French Defence Minister, Mr. Alain Richard, begins a two-day official visit to India on Thursday during which he will discuss strategic matters and defence contracts with his Indian counterpart and top officials. Mr. Richard who is accompanied by a high-level delegation is also scheduled to meet the Prime minister Mr. A.B. Vajpayee and the President Mr. K.R.Narayanan. He will also meet the External Affairs Minister, Mr Jaswant Singh, the three chiefs of staff and deliver a lecture on European Defence at the USII.

Contrary to reports appearing in the Indian press, there is unlikely to be any announcement on either the sale of 10 additional Mirage 2000 H jets or the Alpha Jet Trainer. It is likely, however, that the Minister will tie up the 2 billion franc deal for the Mirages and explore avenues for further cooperation, especially concerning the needs of the Indian Navy. The problem with French equipment, as usual, remains its prohibitive cost.

Mr. Richard is accompanied by his diplomatic adviser Mr Audibert, his military adviser General Thorette and Mr Bernard Ouvrieu, who represents France on the Indo-French High Committee on Defence.

India and France first established a blueprint for defence cooperation in 1988. It was signed by the former election commissioner T.N. Sheshan, who was then the Defence Secretary. The idea was to inaugurate a strategic dialogue, project the country's defence needs and increase cooperation both in terms of direct contacts between the armed forces and technological and scientific collaboration. But France's decision to sell Mirage jets to Pakistan put paid to that project and for seven years defence cooperation between India and France was low. Interest has now been revived with the setting up of the High Committee on defence.

The French have been keen to go during Mr. Narayanan's recent visit to France, Mr. Richard reiterated his desire to visit India ``soon''. Renewed cooperation is also a result of the ``understanding attitude '' adopted by the French immediately following India's nuclear explosions.

``While France is attached to the question of non- proliferation, we do not lay down any pre-conditions where India is concerned,'' Mr Jean Francois Bureau, one of Mr. Richard's senior advisers told The Hindu. It has been erroneously reported in the Indian press that France insisted that India accede to the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty in order to develop ``a full- fledged defence cooperation'' with India. ``We have gone over the question thoroughly and we understand each other's positions. There is no precondition on our side,'' Mr Bureau explained.

While India had taken the decision to buy 66 Advanced Jet Trainers, the French at this stage do not appear to be in the running. It is learnt that although there have been discussions on the purchase by India of the AJT, (the deal includes full transfer of technology with the possibility for Hindustan Aeronautics Limited to export the aircraft), France has not responded to the tender, which was floated by the Indian government. Sources here say that there were several constraints which prevented the French responding to the tender, one of them being the time factor.

The Indian side, it has been hinted, is in a hurry to make these acquisitions and has set deadlines which the French would find difficult to meet. France's direct and only competitor for the AJT is the British Hawk 100.

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