France rules out NSG coop with NPT non-signatories

Islamabad, Nov 29: French Ambassador to Pakistan Regis de Belenet has ruled out any cooperation by the Nuclear Suppliers' Group with non-signatories to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) for civil nuclear technology.

Official Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) quoted Mr Belenet as saying here that it was the group's international commitment not to help non-signatories with civil nuclear technology, and France, as a member of the NSG, would stick to its commitment.

Pakistan, which plans to generate 8,800 megawatts of electricity by 2025, has been seeking NSG's cooperation in meeting its growing energy requirements since refusal by US President George W Bush to enter into cooperation with this South Asian countries in the peaceful uses of nuclear technology.

During his visit to Pakistan in March this year, President Bush had refused to cooperate with Pakistan in civilian nuclear echonology just two days after his country inked a similar agreement of olleboration with India in the field.

However, China assured Pakistan of more help in the area and offered at least six more nuclear power plants during President Pervez Musharraf's visit to Beijing early this year.

Pakistan built a 300-megawatt nuclear power plant at Chashma town in the early 1990s while the second plant is currently under construction at the same sight.

About the Indo-US civil nuclear technology deal, the French ambassador said his country as well as other members of the NSG were monitoring the procedure being adopted by the US Congress.

UNI