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France for lasting defence ties with India

By Our Special Correspondent

The French Defence Minister, Michele Alliot-Marie, with her Indian counterpart, George Fernandes, at the South Block in New Delhi on Monday. — Photo: Rajeev Bhatt

NEW DELHI APRIL 28. France has offered a long-lasting military relationship to India in view of the similar vision shared by both countries on the global geo-political situation. Deeper ties could particularly evolve in joint development, technology transfer and sale of hi-tech weapons systems, suggested the visiting French Defence Minister, Michelle Alliot Marie, during an interaction with presspersons here today.

"The intensity of Indo-French defence relationship will get deeper because not only do we have excellent bilateral relations but also have similar vision," she said adding that though most countries were in favour of international democracy, only those countries that had a credible defence deterrent would be heard.

Rounding off her interaction, which included a one-on-one meeting with her counterpart and delegation-level talks chaired by the two Ministers, Ms. Marie felt that France's opposition to the Iraq war had been endorsed by most countries. "It is not a fault if one is trying to avoid casualties. We find that almost all countries have the same conviction." Asked if she expected France to be penalised for opposing the line taken by the United States, she said, on the contrary, France would be rewarded for the position it had taken.

An official news release said that the meeting with the Defence Minister, George Fernandes, covered the global and regional security environment including Afghanistan and Iraq. Discussion also touched Mr. Fernandes' recent visit to China.

France has had intermittent ties in military-to-military relationship and is seeking to improve them substantially by offering technology for the indigenous production of missiles and submarines.

The French Minister was hopeful that the multi-billion contract for the construction of six submarines at an Indian shipyard would be signed before the end of the year.

French companies have also been playing a substantial role in India's quest for a light combat aircraft.

The Minister said France had offered the sale of its upgraded Mirage 2000-5 to India along with technology transfer. Though the latest Mirage version is one among several offers made to New Delhi, it is considered the frontrunner because one of the earlier versions is already part of the IAF fleet. Paris has also offered thermal imagers for the Army's T-72 and T-90 tanks and angular determination system for artillery.

The three service chiefs also called on Ms. Marie.

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