Monday, September 12 2005 16:48 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Paris: French President Jacques Chirac today (Sept 12, 2005) confirmed India's USD 3 billion purchase of six Franco-Spanish submarines as he received visiting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at his Paris offices.

Chirac also confirmed the recent announcement by Indian Airlines that it was buying 43 Airbus passenger aircraft in a deal worth 1.8 billion euros.

US Congressman Tom Lantos had on Thursday made un-diplomatic comments about the Indian Foreign Minister for his stand on Iran's nuclear programme, which Washington wants to refer to the UN Security Council for possible sanctions, which New Delhi has described as 'crude'.

The Prime Minister said, "In a free country, people are free to say what they like" India's relations were with the Bush Administration.

India, he said, would follow the joint statement he and President Bush signed recently on cooperation in civilian nuclear energy.

So far as Iran's nuclear programme was concerned, the issue would be discussed by the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency, he said adding " naturally when the questions comes up there, these will be discussed".