Romania supports India's Civil Nuke energy

New Delhi, Oct 23: Romania today supported India's efforts to generate civilian nuclear energy while both countries agreed to jointly combat international terrorism, promote UN reforms and enhance cooperation in the defence sector.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and visiting Romanian President Traian Basescu, after holding ''wide-ranging'' discussions on bilateral, regional and international issues here, also agreed on the need to promote greater international cooperation in promoting nuclear energy as a safe, environment-friendly and sustainable source of energy through forward-looking approaches in accordance with the IAEA Statute and other international obligations.

''We fully understand and support India's openness and the possibility to generate nuclear energy...Romania is a member of the group of countries that support the idea of India's generation of nuclear energy,'' the Romanian President said after the meeting, Dr Singh was also present.

He also supported India's fight against terrorism and called for global curbs on all assistance to terrorism, including financial support.

Romania, which will become a member of the European Union (EU) from January 1, 2007, also supported the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) and UN reforms.

Noting the potential for further development of bilateral Defence cooperation, the two countries agreed to to forge strategic partnership in the sector not only in equipment sales but also in co-production, technology transfers, military-to-military exchanges and training.

The Romanian President who arrived here last night on a three-day State visit to India, also met UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

Tomorrow he will leave for Agra and Mumbai.

UNI