NEW DELHI, Feb. 21 (UPI) -- India and France's civilian nuclear deal may help the Indian government demonstrate the necessity of finalizing a similar pact with the United States, Indian foreign policy experts said Tuesday.
"The civilian nuclear agreement between India and France has come as a shot in the arm for Manmohan Singh's government as it would provide an effective weapon to silence the critics of the July 18 India-U.S. nuclear deal," said A.B. Mahapatra, a senior political analyst.
Mahapatra said the new nuclear agreement would also give some much-needed space to the Indian government to argue that the Indo-U.S. nuclear pact is necessary to meet country's energy needs.
India and France Monday signed a civilian nuclear energy cooperation agreement. The two countries said the pact would be in line with their respective international commitments.
"All future nuclear reactors obtained through international cooperation would be under global safeguards," said Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, following his talks with Chirac, hinting that India may not plan to put all its future nuclear reactors under international safeguards.
Singh said India was committed to honoring in letter and spirit the July 18 Indo-U.S. joint statement, which requires that India separate its civilian and military nuclear facilities and put them under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards.
The implementation of Monday's Indo-French nuclear pact hinges on the completion of India's similar deal with the United States, because Paris takes the line that any cooperation with India must jibe with French commitments to the elite Nuclear Suppliers' Group.
"Once the Indo-U.S. nuke deal is sealed, it would strengthen New Delhi's case at the NSG," Mahapatra said.
During official-level talks the Indian side sought France's cooperation to convince the Nuclear Suppliers' Group that India's case is a genuine one.
"The two sides are working for cooperation in the areas of nuclear energy applications in various sectors, including power generation, nuclear waste management, exchange and training of scientific and technical staff and joint research and development activities," said Indian foreign office spokesman Navtej Sarna.
"Our support to India is principled support... India must be allowed to achieve its necessary economic development without facing the stranglehold of economic and energy constraints," said French President Chirac, who added that his country is not driven by economic considerations in pursuing this agreement with India.
The two sides signed nine agreements, including a framework pact on defense cooperation that includes formation of an armaments procurement group.
The agreement, signed before the arrival of U.S. President George W. Bush in India early March, assumes significance in view of the statement made by Singh on the country's nuclear separation intentions.
"It also shows New Delhi's determination to complete the nuke deal with the United States," said Mahapatra. "The civilian nuclear agreement signed with France concentrates on efforts to coax the Indian nuclear system into the international mainstream, but it did not commit anything on nuclear business and left it open to the NSG."
"The foundation of this deal was laid way back in June 2003 when French nuclear experts, officials of Nuclear Power Corporation of India and French nuclear giant Areva carried out a feasibility study to evaluate the setting up of six pressurized heavy water reactors of 100 megawatts in the western Indian state of Maharashtra for power generation," said Indian National Security Advisor M.K. Narayanan.
The French declaration avoided mentioning the supply of uranium to India. Instead, during negotiations they told Indian officials that a full-fledged agreement would be signed later to take care of uranium supply.
The French side also told Indian officials that the detailed agreement would come only after the completion of a Indo-U.S. nuclear agreement.
"President Chirac's willingness to sign an agreement on the intent to embark on substantive nuclear cooperation with India has certainly helped legitimize the Indian energy quest to be treated as a unique case," said C. Rajamohan, a prominent Indian nuclear expert.
However, Rajamohan said the journey is far from completed. He said no one in India should be under the illusion that either France or Russia, which has also supported the Indian case for making a nuclear exception for New Delhi, are ready to break ranks with the United States.
"We appreciate France's support for the ongoing effort to enable full civilian nuclear energy cooperation between India and the international community," Singh said.
Analyst Rajeev Sharma said the French president seemed to appreciate India's problems in balancing its nuclear energy quest with the need to protect its nuclear deterrent.
The ruling United Progressive Alliance government, led by Singh, has come under fire from the opposition right-wing National Democratic Alliance and supporting leftist allies for signing a nuclear deal with the United States.
