New Delhi: France today (Feb 13, 2004) said it stood by India's side in the fight against terrorism and supported its proposal for a global convention on the menace at the United Nations.

Apparently concerned over clandestine transfer of nuclear weapons technology to rogue states by Pakistani scientists, it said proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) constituted another major threat to international stability.

"India knows the price there is to pay to fight terrorism. The attack against Indian Parliament in December 2001, which targeted the heart of your democracy, served as a reminder to whole international community," French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin said delivering the Madhavrao Scindia Memorial Lecture in New Delhi.

Observing that everyone was aware of New Delhi's determination to eliminate the menace, he said, "France stands by your side in this fight".

Voicing support to India's proposal for a global convention on terrorism at the United Nations, Villepin said, "Within the framework of Franco-Indian working group on international terrorism, we are also developing an operational cooperation to reinforce the efficiency of the fight against terrorist networks."

He said France has for a long time supported India's candidature as a permanent member of the UN Security Council since India is a power with a global reach.