EU assures India full solidarity in fighting terrorism

By Deepak Arora

NEW DELHI, July 29: The European Union has assured its full solidarity in fighting terrorism alongside India and termed the recent blasts in Bangalore and Ahmedabad as "cowardly and inhuman" attacks.

"I learnt with deep grief the dastardly attacks which struck India, in Bangalore and Ahmedabad, on July 25 and 26. I would like to extend my deepest condolences and sympathy to you, as well as to the Indian people and particularly the families of the victims," French President Nicholas Sarkozy, who holds the Presidency of the European Union, said in a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Sarkozy said, "as the holder of the Presidency of the European Union, I considered it important for Europe to condemn firmly these blind, cowardly and inhuman attacks.

"On this occasion, I wish to assure you of the full solidarity of the 27 Member-States of the EU and their determination to fight alongside the Indian government to eradicate the scourge of terrorism," he said.

Sarkozy said France and India will have the opportunity to examine soon the reinforcement of our cooperation in this area during strategic dialogue scheduled on August 11 in Paris.

"Should you so desire, we could raise the substance of this issue together during the upcoming EU-India Summit and the Indo-French Summit which we will hold in Marseilles and then in Paris, in September," he added.

Syria, Israel leaders mark Bastille Day in France

PARIS, July 14: The leaders of Syria and Israel, countries with a bitter enmity, as well as the Palestinian and Lebanese presidents together marked France's Bastille Day on Monday in a diplomatic coup for French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Other leaders from Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, also attended the traditional Bastille Day parade, where troops in their finery marched down the tree-lined Champs-Elysees, and jets trailing smoke of red, white and blue roared overhead.

Syrian President Bashar Assad, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and more than two dozen other leaders stood on the official grandstand, looking up the Champs-Elysees toward the Arch of Triumph. The leaders had stayed over following a summit Sunday that launched an unprecedented Union for the Mediterranean, a brainchild of Sarkozy's aimed at securing peace across the restive region.

In launching the Mediterranean union, 43 nations, including Israel and Arab states, agreed to work for a Middle East free of weapons of mass destruction

Deep divisions still slice through the region and its population of 800 million people, and surfaced during Sunday's summit, highlighting how hard it will be to parlay the meeting's good will and words into real progress.

Assad refused to shake Olmert's hand, and Morocco's king snubbed the meeting attended by the president of rival Algeria. It was also unclear how the countries would enforce their pledge to "pursue a mutually and effectively verifiable Middle East Zone free of weapons of mass destruction."

Still, Sarkozy reveled at having brought so many leaders to the same table for the first time. His office brushed off critics' complaints that Assad should not have been allowed to stay for Monday's ceremonies because of Syrian human rights failings and suspicions that Syria was implicated in a 1983 bombing in Lebanon that killed 58 French soldiers.

Campaign group Reporters Without Borders called Assad an "enemy of press freedom" whose government is guilty of "ruthless censorship."

Assad, in dark glasses, showed no emotion as French actor Kad Merad read aloud an extract from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in front of the grandstand where the leaders stood.

G8 must include India, China: Sarkozy

PARIS, July 5: Thousands rallied in northern Japan calling for the G8 rich industrialised nations to be disbanded on Saturday while in Paris, member France called for the group to grow to include major emerging states such as China and India.

In Sapporo, several thousand people protested against the annual Group of Eight summit due to take place at a luxury hotel 70 km away.

The 90-minute march by Japanese and foreign activists took place under heavy security ahead of the July 7-9 meeting at the hot spring and lake resort of Toyako.

The protesters banged drums and carried colourful banners proclaiming “Shut Down the G8” and yelled: “We are against a summit of rich nations”.

Four Japanese men were arrested for violating the public safety ordinances or interfering with police activities.

In Paris, French President Nicolas Sarkozy called for the meeting to include China and India as well as representatives from Latin America, Africa and West Asia, saying the world today was “multipolar”.

“I think it is not reasonable to continue to meet as eight to solve the big questions of the world, forgetting China — 1 billion, 300 million people — and not inviting India — 1 billion people,” he told a conference of the ruling UMP party.

The G8 includes the US, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Russia.

“The truth is that if we want peace and world development, everybody needs to be invited,” Sarkozy said.

“I do not accept that a continent of 1 billion people like Africa does not have a country to represent it at the table of world leaders.”

Sarkozy has said more than once that he thinks the group should be expanded. He did not detail on Saturday how the structure should be changed, however.

This year’s G8 host, Japan, argues that the current size works well, with other countries brought into the group for discussions on specific issues. In all, 22 leaders are attending next week’s meetings in Hokkaido.

“We cherish this format for G8”, a senior Japanese government official told reporters this week, adding that the G8 countries “share common values”.

The G8 nations will meet eight other countries, including China, India and Brazil, in an expanded Major Economies Meeting (MEM) on July 9 to look at long-term targets for climate change.

Environmentalists are urging the G8 to set bold targets for cutting C02 emissions by 2050 and interim goals for how to get there in order to boost momentum for UN-led talks on a new framework for after the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012. Those talks are set to end in Copenhagen next year.

Cop kills self before Carla, Sarkozy

BEN-GURION AIRPORT/ISRAEL, June 24: An Israeli police officer fatally shot himself in the head on Tuesday at an airport departure ceremony for French President Nicolas Sarkozy, authorities said, sparking fear of an assassination attempt and prompting bodyguards to whisk Sarkozy and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert away from the scene.

The shooting occurred while a military band was playing, and the leaders apparently didn't hear anything. Dark-suited men then quickly ushered Sarkozy and his wife up the stairs of their plane. In a panic, Sarkozy's wife, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, rushed up the stairs ahead of her husband.

At the same time, security guards, with their guns drawn, rushed Olmert and Israeli President Shimon Peres toward their cars. The incident was over within minutes, and Olmert returned and boarded the plane to inform Sarkozy what had transpired, witnesses said.

Police spokesman Shlomi Sagi confirmed that a policeman guarding the airport committed suicide just as Sarkozy was about to board his plane as a band was playing.

Another police spokesman, Micky Rosenfeld, denied reports that there had been an assassination attempt on the French leader.

The incident marred Sarkozy's three-day trip to Israel, a visit meant to improve relations between the two countries.

French presidential spokesman Franck Louvrier could not be reached for comment on his mobile phone. Another presidential spokesman who was on another scheduled flight out of Tel Aviv said he knew nothing about the incident.

Sarkozy heaps praise on Brown for ratifying treaty

PARIS, June 19: President Sarkozy today praised Gordon's Brown's "political courage" in pushing through ratification of the Lisbon Treaty despite the Irish 'No' vote, as he prepared for talks to salvage the agreement.

Speaking after a meeting with Mr Brown, at which the two leaders agreed to work together to avoid a crisis over the treaty, President Sarkozy said: "I want to say how pleased I am and thank him for demonstrating political courage by leading the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty. He did this with much commitment and much strength."

While the Prime Minister has denied that he plans to "bully" the Irish into voting again on the treaty, President Sarkozy goes into tonight's summit determined to save the reform plan during a dynamic French EU presidency to prove to the European people that the Union is their friend.

The Irish "No" last week put a damper on Mr Sarkozy's ambition to leave his mark on the Union with a flamboyant presidency that will be symbolised by the illumination of the Eiffel tower in European blue and gold from July 1.

The festivities, including "Europe balls" across France on Bastille day, will roll on during France's six month turn in the EU chair. Spending 190 million Euros, Paris aims to dazzle with stylish ceremonies and the classiest souvenirs ever given away at EU summits, designed by Philippe Starck.

Beyond the style, the "Sarko show" is to pursue initiatives on immigration, climate change, defence and energy. The first spectacular will be a Paris summit on July 13 for about 50 leaders from Europe, North Africa and the Middle East to launch Mr Sarkozy's pet project for a "Mediterranean Union".

But the French president will be deprived this year of his role as king-maker for the new posts of semi-permanent EU President and Foreign Minister. Rather than raising the curtain on this post-Lisbon era, Mr Sarkozy has now given himself a new mission: winning back favour for the Union.

Initially, Mr Sarkozy was furious with the Irish. "They are bloody fools," he told aides, according to le Canard Enchaîné weekly. "They have been stuffing their faces at Europe's expense for years and now they dump us in the s..t."

He then ordered his government to play down the 'no', proceed with their plans and find ways to save the treaty. "We have to manage the Irish 'no' with calm, with sang-froid and neither dramatise nor minimise it," he last weekend.

The French "hyper-president" is determined to make the Irish vote a second time on the treaty, if possible even before European Parliament elections next June.

Mr Sarkozy, who was one of the brokers of the "mini-treaty" last June, has ruled out any rewriting of the text, which he hopes will be ratified by all 26 other states. He is asking Brian Cowen, the Prime Minister, to outline the guarantees Ireland would need to approve the treaty.

France opens doors to Indian engineering students

NEW DELHI, April 28: France has opened the doors to its technology for Indian engineers - for the first time selecting 16 young engineering students to study in various universities across France on scholarships sponsored by Alten, a leading French engineering group.

The programme is in association with the 'n+1', a network of 74 French engineering colleges, and the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The students short-listed for the two-year masters' programme took part in a pre-departure orientation programme at the French Embassy recently.

The students were selected from among 100 from Delhi, Thiruvananthapuram and Mumbai based on their merit and adaptability skill. They will complete their masters degree, accompanied by internship programmes with the Alten Group. The 'n+I' network comprises some of the best engineering colleges in France.

'It is a new initiative. The French government is allowing Indian engineers to study in the country for the first time. The agreement was signed between Valerie Pecresse, minister of higher education and research in France, and several Indian universities in January when President Nicolas Sarkozy visited India,' said Philippe Carette, chief executive officer of the Alten Group.

Carette said Alten was increasing its business significantly in India and wanted a global workforce, which could adapt to both French and Indian culture. The students will have to study and answer their papers in French. The streams include automotive, aerospace, cad-cam, design, innovation and telecommunication, in which the country has technological edge.

Alten comprises 11,000 engineers, who provide integrated technical solutions to big industry names in automation, aerospace, electronics and energy engineering across the world. It is one of the biggest technical consultants in Europe.

'President Sarkozy wants to internationalise our country as an education stop. He is keen that the number of Indian students in France goes up and vice-versa. India is a big market for us and we have to localise our products to tap its potential. At the same time, we have to be cost effective, service oriented and quality conscious.

'We need local engineers for the purpose who can understand the language - both French and Indian. The curriculum of the engineering students has been roughly tailored to suit our needs,' Alten's offshore business director, Munich-based Indrajit Sen, told IANS. The company is also ready to support the students for their doctoral programmes if they prove themselves.

Ten out of the 16 students short-listed for the Master of Science (MS) programme were present at the orientation.

The French government has increased the number of scholarships for Indian students. Next year, as many as 300 students will get an opportunity to study in France. The French government has also enacted a new legislation that will allow Indian students to work for a couple of years in the country after completing their master's degrees.

French President Sarkozy marries Bruni

PARIS, Feb 2: French President Nicolas Sarkozy married supermodel-turned-singer Carla Bruni at the Elysee Palace on Saturday, French radio reported quoting several witnesses.

Two radio stations said the pair tied the knot at a low-key ceremony conducted by the mayor of the Paris district that houses the grandiose Elysee estate.

"The bride was wearing white and was ravishing," mayor Francois Lebel told Europe 1 radio. "The bridegroom wasn't bad either," he added, without naming the couple.

The Italian news agency ANSA quoted Bruni's mother, Marisa Borini, as confirming the wedding had taken place.

A spokesman for Sarkozy declined to comment on the reports.

Sarkozy and Bruni indicated last month that they planned to marry and made it clear that any wedding would be a private affair, far from the eyes of the media.

A French newspaper report on January 14 that they had married proved unfounded. RTL radio on Saturday gave a much more detailed report, naming the couple's witnesses.

The radio station also quoted Bernadette Chirac, wife of previous French President Jacques Chirac, as saying getting married at the Elysee, the president's official residence, was "a wonderful thing".

"I want to express all my best wishes to this new household. She is very, very beautiful," she added. It was not immediately clear if she was present.

Sarkozy, 53, separated from his second wife Cecilia last October after 11 years of marriage and was clearly deeply upset by the split, just five months after he took power.

It was the first time in modern French history that a serving president had separated from his wife, but within two months Sarkozy was photographed in public at Paris Disneyland with Bruni, and the French media reported they were a couple.

The two went on holiday together over the Christmas period in Egypt and Jordan and photographs of them walking arm-in-arm made the front cover of almost every news magazine in France.

The media frenzy has dealt a blow to Sarkozy's popularity ratings, with French voters complaining that he was concentrating too much on his personal life and not enough on the affairs of state.

Bruni, 40, has previously been linked with rock stars Mick Jagger and Eric Clapton, as well as US businessman Donald Trump and French former Socialist Prime Minister Laurent Fabius.

She has a son from a previous relationship, while Sarkozy has two grown-up sons from his first marriage, and a third son from his marriage to Cecilia.

Bruni threw a surprise birthday party for Sarkozy last week at her plush Paris home and friends say the pair are extremely happy together.

RTL radio said Sarkozy's witness at the wedding was Nicolas Bazire, a senior figure in the LVMH luxury goods group, while Bruni's witness was Mathilde Agostinelli, head of communications at Prada France.

India, France to bolster defence ties

By Deepak Arora

NEW DELHI, Jan 25: French President Nicolas Sarkozy has reiterated Paris’ support for India's bid to become a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and New Delhi's civil nuclear deal with the United States.

Sarkozy, who arrived here on a two-day visit, said "France will be an advocate for India over access to civilian nuclear (technology)."
A joint statement between the two governments said that "France and India have finalized negotiation in regard to reaching a bilateral agreement for civil nuclear cooperation."

"We will pass the operational phase as soon as India concludes an accord with the IAEA and that the international rules of the suppliers' group are changed," said the visiting French President.

Sarkozy, accompanied by a business delegation, met with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday. On Saturday, he will be the guest of honour at India's Republic Day celebrations.

Besides international and regional situation, the two leaders also discussed the strong defence ties between the two countries. France in recent years has signed deals for Mirage jets and Scorpene submarines to modernise India’s military.

The revival of the Eurocopter deal for 197 military helicopters -- which was dumped by India last month – is also said to have figured during the talks.

France's Dassault Rafale will also compete for a deal to provide India with the world's biggest fighter jet contract in years, expected to top $10.2 billion for 126 fighters.

Dr Singh said the two countries have agreed to strengthen military cooperation and move beyond a "buyer-seller relationship."

Addressing a joint press conference with Nocolas Sarkozy, Dr Singh said "I think it is very important that India and France should cooperate, share information and intelligence gathering for defence of the values which are dear to both our countries."

"We have agreed to go beyond a buyer-seller relationship. We will increasingly focus on joint research and development projects, transfer of technology and greater military exchanges," he added.

The two sides had earlier signed an agreement on protecting classified defence information.

The two countries also decided to strengthen their cooperation in counter-terrorism areas.

Sarkozy said that the “rise of Islamic terrorism” is expressed the “same way here and in France”. He said “we face the same enemies.”

He pointed out that France has been interested in India's neighbourhood, having a substantial troop presence in Afghanistan.

'We all know what is going on there,' he added, referring to India's neighbour Pakistan, which is beset with political instability and extremism.

'I need not spell out why we are strengthening cooperation between our intelligence agencies,' said the French President.

Dr Manmohan Singh also stressed that it was “very important for India and France to cooperate” and share information in the “defence of values” shared by both countries.

The joint statement signed by the two leaders also reflected those sentiments.

“In order to face this common threat, both countries agreed to strengthen their cooperation against international terrorism through, inter-alia, increased operational contacts,” it said.

French FM visit to strengthen ties with India

By Deepak Arora

NEW DELHI, Dec 20: French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner arrived here on Thursday in a build-up to the visit of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who will be Chief Guest at the Republic Day celebrations on January 26.

During his meeting with External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, the two leaders will discuss a host of bilateral and international issues, including enhancing business ties, civil nuclear cooperation and cooperation in tackling global challenges, global warming, public health and the fight against emerging diseases.

Besides finalisation of the agenda for the France President's first visit to India, Kouchner will be given a brief on the status of negotiations on the Indo-US civil nuclear deal. The two sides are also expected to discuss the possibilities of civil nuclear cooperation between the two countries.

During the parleys, Mukherjee is will also seek France's help in persuading some skeptical members of the 27-nation European Union, like the Scandinavian countries, to back the nuclear deal.

France has always been key supported of India on the civil nuclear deal and has backed India for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council.

The contentious issue of $600 million army contract for which Eurocopter (a French, German and Spanish consortium) had been shortlisted and is now in doldrums is also expected to figure during the parleys.

On Friday, the French Minister will call on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and discuss with him a host of issues.

He will call on Congress President and United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

During his visit, Kouchner, will participate in a debate with Indian NGOs on the theme of "international solidarity for health" in the presence of Minister of Labour and Employment and Chairman of the Parliamentary Forum on AIDS Oscar Fernandes, Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma and Executive Director of the Global Fund to fight AIDS Michel Kazatchkine.

Kouchner, who is accompanied by his spouse Christine Ockrent, will also visit Agra.

Franco-Indian relations form part of a strategic partnership defined in 1998 by both the countries which committed themselves to strengthening their bilateral relations in all areas.

“The visit of the French Foreign Minister testifies to our deep attachment to the reinforcement of our bilateral relations and give a boost to existing cooperations, whether they be industrial, scientific, technical or university cooperation,” according to a spokesperson of the French embassy here.

“Moreover, this would enable us to intensify our dialogue with India on global challenges, especially the environment and the fight against global warming, public health and the fight against emerging diseases,” added the spokesperson.

Eight envoys present credentials in New Delhi

President's stress on people-to-people contacts for furthering bilateral ties

By Deepak Arora

NEW DELHI, Sept 26: Eight envoys presented their credentials to the President Pratibha Devisingh Patil at a ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan here on Wednesday.

The Ambassadors, who presented their credentials, were Mr. Marc Courte (Luxembourg), Mr. Jerome Bonnafont (France), Ms. Ann Ollestad (Norway), Mr. Miguel Angel Ramirez Ramos (Cuba), Mr. Jean-Marie Deboutte (Belgium), and Ms. Daniele Smadja (European Commission) and Mr. Hardijs Baumanis (Latvia). UK High Commissioner, Mr. Charles Richard Vernon Stagg, also presented his credentials.

During her interaction with the Heads of Missions, The President stated that India was committed to promote peace and prosperity in the world.
Mrs Patil stressed on the need for the international community to unitedly combat terrorism.

The President also said that India seeks friendly relations with all countries and would work towards further strengthening ties by increasing trade and investment, as well as through enhanced people to people contacts, student and cultural exchanges.

The credential presentation ceremony was attended by the senior members of the diplomatic missions, senior officials of the Ministry of External Affairs and of the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

On this occasion, Mr. Bonnafont reaffirmed the historical ties of friendship and the strategic partnership between France and India.

After presenting his Credentials, he visited Mahatma Gandhi’s memorial at Rajghat to pay tribute to the Mahatma’s memory and message of peace, which carries universal appeal.

After presenting his credentials to the President, Mr Stagg said: "It is a privilege for me to take on the challenge of building on the strengths of the unique UK-India partnership and to carry forward the huge and broadening agenda of bilateral cooperation. It is an exciting time for all of us engaged in promoting the bilateral links, whether business, government, cultural or social.”

He said "almost all of the British Government's International Strategic Priorities involve stepping up our engagement with India. They cover a wide range of sectors. Foreign and defence policy; counter-terrorism and counter-proliferation; economic and trade policy; science, education, and innovation; environment and sustainable development; as well as vibrant people-to-people contact will work to make the bilateral relationship even more meaningful for both our great nations."