India deserves better status on nuclear issue, says Girard

Bangalore, Jun 8 (UNI) French Ambassador in India Dominique Girard today observed that India deserved a better status on access to nuclear technology for civilian use.

Speaking to newspersons here, the ambassador, who was here to participate in the ongoing Bangalore Biotech Show-2006, said France had been supporting India on the issue from the beginning and continued to promote the change.

On India's request for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council, Mr Girard said his country was the first to promote the idea and support it. ''We continue to support the idea keeping in view the country's size, democratic regime and its international behaviour.'' It had been discussed in detail with former Indian President K R Narayanan when he visited France four years ago. A strong political bond existed between India and France for a long time, he added.

To a question, he said the French aircraft manufacturing company, Dassault, would make a bid through its new aircraft, Rafel, if and when the Indian government proposed to purchase the fighter aircraft.

He expressed happiness over the supply of six Scorpene submarines to India and said it was a major deal.

Stating that the French government always welcomed Indian investors, he said it would neither oppose nor support the efforts being made by industrialist Lakshmi Mittal to take over the Arcelor Steel company. It was for the shareholders to decide ultimately.

However, the steel industry in Europe was in deep trouble for over three decades with disappearance of a bulk of jobs and sinking of companies one after another leading to terrible economic crisis, he added.

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