France advocates India's entry in G-8 and permanent seat in SC

Kolkata, Feb 28 (UNI) French ambassador in India Jerome Bonnafont today said India should be made a permanent member in the Security Council and advocated for expansion of G-8 to accomodate India and other developing countries like China and Brazil to make it meaningful existence.

Supporting India's quest for civilian nuclear facility for energy sector, Mr Bonnafont said France would continue to support India for producing clean energy.

He stated that India, a home to more than a billion people, would help in achieving world peace and stability if it becomes a permanent member of the Security Council and the Group of 8.

Pointing out that India was now negotiating with International Atomic Energy Agency(IAEA) on civilian nuclear cooperation for energy sector, he said that France would extend its cooperation so that India could independantly generate clean energy. He said global warming was a concern for all but at the same time growth could not be slowed down in the countries like India.

''We(France and India) have to find out ways to grow continuously and at the same time protect the environment,'' the French ambassador, who was on his maiden visit to this city, said.

''Nuclear energy is typically non-polluting, provided that waste management is taken care of,'' Mr Bonnafont said.

He said France had also faced problems in the 70s and had crises in the power sector but now the country produces 80 per cent electricy from nuclear energy.

He also said that in last two years trade between France and India has increased by over 55 per cent and this would be double in next five years.

UNI PC LL DB1909