New Delhi: French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier today (Oct 27, 2004) declined to comment on reports that aeronautic group Dassault International engaged middlemen for getting contracts for the sale of Mirage 2000 jets to India, saying there has been a court ruling on it.

Asked about the media reports in New Delhi that Dassault engaged Panamanian company Keyser to help in obtaining the contracts, he told reporters, "I have not heard of this. I have read it in the press this morning.

"Since there has been a court ruling, I won't make any comment on that. The Indian authorities have clearly stated their position in this regard," he said.

Asked about the status of the Scorpene submarine deal, he said there have been commitments and undertakings and hoped these would be concluded on a positive note.

Barnier said the ongoing "comprehensive partnership" between India and France included defence co-operation.

According to media reports, in its judgement last month, the Tribunal de Commerce de Paris noted that Keyser had been engaged for "promotion with a view to sell Mirages 2000 to the Government of India."