NEW DELHI: French president Francois Hollande on Thursday ruled out any AgustaWestland-type scam in India's purchase of 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA), one of India's biggest defence deals ever, saying that there will be nothing in the ongoing negotiations contrary to the "principles common to us". France and India entered exclusive negotiations for purchase of Dassault Aviation's Rafale aircraft, which was chosen over its much fancied rival Eurofighter Typhoon.
After a meeting with Hollande, PM Manmohan Singh announced that Rafale negotiations are "progressing well".
Hollande said that competitiveness and fairness are going to be the basis for the deal in an interaction with journalists in the evening. "On corruption we are vigilant and so is India; that is an essential principle," he said. The president was replying to a query about the AgustaWestland chopper scam in which defence firm Finmeccanica is alleged to have paid a bribe of euro 12 million to former IAF chief S P Tyagi's family members.
"As far as probity is concerned, there will be nothing contrary to the principle common to both the countries. This is about the excellence of Rafale and time and again we have proved its efficiency," said Hollande, who was on his first visit to Asia after taking over as president last year.
Earlier in the day, Hollande said after his meeting with Singh that "some progress has to be achieved in the negotiations for Rafale" and that France hoped that the two countries can soon reach a conclusion. Hollande later clarified that he had not come to India for commercial negotiations and that rather than his weight behind the talks; he would put his trust in the aircraft.
Singh also announced that the two sides had concluded negotiations for surface-to-air missile Maitri as he went on to describe France as one of India's most valued strategic partners. Maitri will be co-developed and co-produced in India. "There is a welcome shift from defence trade to co-development and co-production of advanced defence items in India, which will help expand our domestic production base and strengthen the India-France strategic partnership," said Singh.
With both sides highlighting the fact that Hollande had chosen India for his first visit to Asia, the president said France shared a relationship of confidence with India. The president was replying to a query seeking to compare India with China. "We have civil nuclear cooperation with China but we are supplying defence material and equipment to India too. We have confidence in India which is a peaceful power but wants to protect itself. We can supply material and technology to India without fearing what use will be made of this technology by India," said the French president.
The two countries also reviewed progress on the Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project under which France will help India build six next generation European Pressurized Reactors (EPRs). "We reiterated commitment to its early implementation as soon as the commercial and technical negotiations, which have made good progress, are completed," said Singh. While there was no big ticket announcement, the two sides did sign four agreements, including one for cultural exchange programmes.
The two sides also discussed the situation in Mali with Hollande thanking Singh for supporting Mali. As part of its support to the Malian defence forces and the African-led International Support Mission, India had announced an assistance of $1 million at the Donors Conference held recently in Addis Ababa, the headquarters for African Union.
Coming down heavily on terrorism, the two leaders said no compromise is possible with terrorists. Cross-border terrorism needs to be addressed at the multilateral level by supporting initiatives in the framework of the UN such as the draft Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism, said a joint statement.
In this context, the two sides recognized that terrorism poses the main threat to Afghanistan's security and stability. The leaders expressed commitment to the key principles for a peaceful inter-Afghan dialogue: acceptance of the Afghan Constitution, renunciation to violence and breaking links with terrorism.
Rafale talks progressing well: PM
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Rafale talks progressing well: PM
