India has to make compromises: France

France today said India will have to make 8216;8216;some compromises8217;8217; on the issue of separation of its civil and military faci...

France today said India will have to make 8216;8216;some compromises8217;8217; on the issue of separation of its civil and military facilities as lack of consensus in the Nuclear Suppliers Group NSG could put any such arrangement on nuclear cooperation 8216;8216;on hold8217;8217;.

Though French Ambassador Dominique Girard said some kind of document on civil nuclear cooperation might be signed during President Jacques Chirac8217;s visit later this month, he noted 8216;8216;clearly, India has to make some proposals, some efforts acceptable to us, to the Americans and all other NSG countries8217;8217;.

While France did not have the 8216;8216;same constraints8217;8217; as the Americans with regard to public opinion or policy, he said 8216;8216;there are some compromises which have to be made by India8217;8217;.

He candidly responded to a range of issues covering civilian nuclear energy cooperation, the Clemenceau ship controversy, defence and economic cooperation and the expectations from Chirac8217;s visit from February 19 to 21.

Girard8217;s remarks come close on the heels of the comments by US Ambassador David Mulford that India would have to put 8216;8216;great majority8217;8217; of its nuclear facilities in the civilian side failing which the American Congress would think New Delhi has an agenda different from that of developing civilian nuclear industry.

8216;8216;What we have in common with the Americans is the fact that NSG countries will have to reach a consensus and that is not easy,8217;8217; said Girard whose country is an important member of the 35-country NSG.

8216;8216;It means for everybody, for us, for Americans, for Russian, for British, who all agree that something should be done to help India. It means that we need some compromises from the Indian side on the adjustments to the conditions in India to make it possible to reach those agreements, either in the US Congress or within the NSG group,8217;8217; the Ambassador said.

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Asked to elaborate on the 8216;8216;compromises8217;8217; France expects India to make, he said 8216;8216;the question of separation is very important for everybody. Today, that is where the most important hurdle is lying, that has to be addressed8217;8217;.

8216;8216;Short of consensus on the acceptablity of new status for India, nuclear cooperation will be kept on hold. But we know pretty well that there are wide possibilities for cooperation between India and France,8217;8217; he said.