France offers civilian nuclear technology to Pakistan?

Pakistan’s drive to overcome its chronic energy shortages received a boost when France expressed willingness to transfer civilian nuclear technology to the South Asian country to meet its energy requirements. This was decided during the talks between the visiting Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and his French counterpart Nicholas Sarkozy here Friday. Briefing media about the meeting, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said the negotiations regarding the transfer of civil nuclear technology will be held in July this year and a new framework agreement and Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is likely to be signed during the visit of the French President to Pakistan in September. "Pakistan has no issues with the IAEA ... Pakistan will give all necessary international guarantees," Qureshi insisted. "That is a significant development, and we have agreed that Pakistan should be treated like India. President Sarkozy said, and I quote him, 'What can be done for India, can be done for Pakistan as well.'," he said. Qureshi said France has also agreed to provide 300 million Euros in assistance to Pakistan in addition to 12 million Euros for the internally displaced persons fleeing the Swat unrest. He spoke of Pakistan’s keenness to further develop and strengthen both its existing trade and commercial ties as well as defence relations with France which is an important country within the European Union. The Foreign Minister described France as a very important trading partner of Pakistan and expressed his country’s desire to upgrade its relations in different sectors. Qureshi spoke about the next month’s EU-Pakistan summit in Brussels and was hopeful that France would support his country in getting greater market access for its produce. The Foreign Minister said in his recent talks with his British counterpart David Miliband in London, the UK has promised to extend similar support to Pakistan. He said Islamabad was desirous of enhancing its economic relations with Paris. He also noted immense possibilities of co-operation between the two countries that exist in the Defence sector and said Pakistan was keen to further explore opportunities in the defence production. Last year, the two countries signed Defence collaboration plan under which both countries agreed to accelerate military cooperation between the two countries. The plan also envisaged exchange of technical expertise to boost level of cooperation in technological matters and its transfer for capacity building of Pakistan Armed Forces. France has helped Pakistan construct three submarines in the recent past while a major component of PAF warplanes comprise French built Mirage jet fighters.

Of Pak-France Ties

The Foreign Minister said that Pakistan is keen to develop and further strengthen both its existing trade and commercial ties as well as defence relations with France which is an important country within the European Union. Qureshi in his media interaction on Friday described France as a very important trading partner of Pakistan and expressed his country’s desire to upgrade its relations in different sectors. The Foreign Minister was part of the delegation that assisted President Asif Ali Zardari in his talks with the French President Nicholas Sarkozy earlier in the day. Shah Mehmood Qureshi spoke about the next month’s EU-Pakistan summit in Brussels and was hopeful that France would support his country in getting greater market access for its products. He said in his recent talks with his British counterpart David Miliband in London, the UK has promised to extend similar support to Pakistan. Qureshi said Islamabad was desirous of enhancing its economic relations with Paris. He also noted immense possibilities of co-operation between the two countries that exist in the defence sector and said Pakistan was keen to further explore opportunities in the defence production.

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