Saturday, May 7 2005 16:46 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Santiniketan: The recent controversy over Air India's decision to buy aircraft from the US-based Boeing company and not from Airbus Industries would not affect relation between India and France as both were 'mature and friendly countries', External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh today (May 7, 2005) said.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a ceremony at the Visva-Bharati University in Santiniketan, Singh said that French Ambassador Dominique Girard had already clarified that he had been misquoted in the media over the issue.

"If that is so, then the matter ends here," Singh, Santiniketan to attend the ceremonial handing over of the Nobel medallion replicas by the Swedish Nobel Foundation to the Visva-Bharati University, said.

Singh said that India had already expressed displeasure over the kind of language used by the French envoy.

"This is not the kind of language one should use for a friendly country. Such language is not part of diplomatic norms. However, the French Ambassador has already said that he was misquoted and I hope the matter ends here," he added.

Asked if India was 'cosying up' to the USA too much, Singh said, "Indo-US relation is not at the expense of some other country. So why should it affect relation with any other country?".