Friday, June 9 2006 09:59 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: France yesterday (June 8, 2006) said India deserved a 'better status' in its access to nuclear technology for civilian use and backed a US proposal to change the rules of the Nuclear Suppliers Group to enable New Delhi achieve it.

"India and the US have reached a (nuclear) agreement last year. There is an American proposal to change the rules of NSG to enable India to access nuclear technology. We support this effort.We are trying to promote this effort," French Ambassador to India Dominique Girard told reporters.

France, he said, had been a 'pioneering partner' with India in supporting its access to nuclear technology for civilian use and had been backing it on the issue at NSG and International Atomic Energy Agency 'before anybody else.'

Noting the strong political bond' between India and France, he said his country was the first member of United Nations Security Council to support India's candidature for permanent membership of UNSC.

"We keep supporting this idea (India as a permanent UNSC member)," Girard said, adding, it was in view of India's democratic regime, size and international behaviour.