Sarkozy wants greater global role for India

Pitching for a greater role for India in global affairs, French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Friday favoured the country’s inclusion in the expanded UN Security Council and G-8 to give New Delhi its ‘rightful place’ in the changed world order. He also sought India’s ‘help’ in convincing Iran that the “path it has adopted (on nuclear programme) has a dead end.” France is one of the countries that wants Iran to allow the IAEA to inspect its nuclear facilities. Addressing a business summit here on Friday, Sarkozy said “how can you invite (countries like India, China, Brazil) on the third day of the G-8 meet” and that “France cannot accept this injustice”. He added: “I do not see how we can wait and wait for the reform of the UNSC… We have to increase the seats and India has to be a member.”

Keeping aside his prepared speech, the French President spoke extempore “from the heart”, saying it was in the interest of the world to engage a country like India. Marvelling at the “Indian model” of recording 7-10 per cent growth, despite its population and diversity, Sarkozy described France as India’s “best friend” and sought greater all-round partnership.

Regarding the current political stalemate in India over the nuclear deal, Sarkozy said, “Coalition has assets and drawbacks”, and for India it’s not a question of choosing “between growth and environment”, but rather it’s a question of choosing “a new form of growth” wherein French companies can have a role to play too.

Sarkozy also spoke on the Mittal Arcelor deal and said, “You (Indian companies) are welcome to (the) French economy”. Without directly referring to the employee issues in the Arcelor deal, he added, “I met (Mittal) as a friend and investor and not as an opponent… In a democracy, there is no prohibition on talking” and the only point of concern in the deal was that “we don’t want to be treated worse than others”.