France offers civilian N-deal modelled on US-India accord
PARIS, May 15: France backs a wide-ranging civilian nuclear deal to buy nuclear equipment like the one signed by the US with India, according to Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi.
He said negotiations on the nuclear technology accord would be held in July this year and a new framework agreement and memorandum of understanding were likely to be signed during the visit of French
President Nicolas Sarkozy to Pakistan in September.
Talking to reporters after President Asif Ali Zardari met the French president here on Friday, he said Mr Sarkozy had told Mr Zardari that he wanted Pakistan to be able to buy nuclear equipment.
“France has agreed to transfer civilian nuclear technology to Pakistan ... They have agreed that Pakistan should be treated like India,” Mr Qureshi said.
“President Sarkozy said, and I quote him, ‘What can be done for India can be done for Pakistan as well’. This is a major development,” Mr Qureshi said.
An official of Mr Sarkozy’s office said France wanted Pakistan to improve its nuclear security but he did not comment about the possibility of an India-style deal.
“The president confirmed that we are prepared ... to cooperate with Pakistan in the area of nuclear safety.”
Mr Qureshi rejected concerns about the safety of Pakistans nuclear arsenal and its proliferation history.
“We will assure the world that we are an important and a responsible nuclear power and we can handle these matters without threatening or endangering anyone,” he said.
“Pakistan has no issues with the IAEA. We are willing to give international guarantees. We want the world to feel secure, and Pakistan will give all necessary guarantees,” he said.
DRONE ISSUE: He denied that there was any agreement with the United States for sending surveillance drones to monitor militants’ activities.
“There is no agreement. If there was an agreement why would we be protesting against violations of our sovereignty?” Mr Qureshi said.
“We have an intelligence-sharing arrangement that has been working successfully,” he said. When asked if the agreement included flying drones into Pakistani airspace, he said: “No.”
“We are in the process of the transfer of this (drone) technology to Pakistan,” Mr Qureshi said, adding Pakistan wanted to operate drones itself.
“We feel we are capable of handling this technology. Our armed forces are sophisticated enough to handle this technology,” he said.
France has also agreed to provide 300 million euros in assistance to Pakistan in addition to 12 million euros for people displaced from Swat. —Agencies
He said negotiations on the nuclear technology accord would be held in July this year and a new framework agreement and memorandum of understanding were likely to be signed during the visit of French
President Nicolas Sarkozy to Pakistan in September.
Talking to reporters after President Asif Ali Zardari met the French president here on Friday, he said Mr Sarkozy had told Mr Zardari that he wanted Pakistan to be able to buy nuclear equipment.
“France has agreed to transfer civilian nuclear technology to Pakistan ... They have agreed that Pakistan should be treated like India,” Mr Qureshi said.
“President Sarkozy said, and I quote him, ‘What can be done for India can be done for Pakistan as well’. This is a major development,” Mr Qureshi said.
An official of Mr Sarkozy’s office said France wanted Pakistan to improve its nuclear security but he did not comment about the possibility of an India-style deal.
“The president confirmed that we are prepared ... to cooperate with Pakistan in the area of nuclear safety.”
Mr Qureshi rejected concerns about the safety of Pakistans nuclear arsenal and its proliferation history.
“We will assure the world that we are an important and a responsible nuclear power and we can handle these matters without threatening or endangering anyone,” he said.
“Pakistan has no issues with the IAEA. We are willing to give international guarantees. We want the world to feel secure, and Pakistan will give all necessary guarantees,” he said.
DRONE ISSUE: He denied that there was any agreement with the United States for sending surveillance drones to monitor militants’ activities.
“There is no agreement. If there was an agreement why would we be protesting against violations of our sovereignty?” Mr Qureshi said.
“We have an intelligence-sharing arrangement that has been working successfully,” he said. When asked if the agreement included flying drones into Pakistani airspace, he said: “No.”
“We are in the process of the transfer of this (drone) technology to Pakistan,” Mr Qureshi said, adding Pakistan wanted to operate drones itself.
“We feel we are capable of handling this technology. Our armed forces are sophisticated enough to handle this technology,” he said.
France has also agreed to provide 300 million euros in assistance to Pakistan in addition to 12 million euros for people displaced from Swat. —Agencies
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