Tuesday, June 13 2006 12:16 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Dismissing suggestions that its nuclear dealing with India was 'predicated upon' successful passage of the Indo-US civilian nuclear agreement in the US Congress, France has said it will continue to press for waiver of restrictions on India at the Nuclear Suppliers Group and the UN atomic energy agency.

"We would like to clarify that the Franco-Indian nuclear co-operation declaration (signed in February this year) is not predicated upon or linked to successful passage of the Indo-US nuclear deal by the Congress," French Ambassador to India, Dominique Girard, told sources in an interview.

Girard's remarks assume significance as India and the US formally launched negotiations here yesterday on the bilateral nuclear co-operation agreement.

"What happens to the Indo-US nuclear deal is a bilateral matter between both countries and it is not a condition for furthering our nuclear relation with India," he said.

"We, on our side, are fully convinced regarding India's stand on the separation of its civilian and nuclear facilities and its commitment on use of nuclear material," Girard said.

Asked what stand France would take on waiver of restrictions on India with regard to supply of nuclear fuel by the 45-member NSG and the Interanational Atomic Energy Agency, Girard said his country would 'wholeheartedly back' any effort by India in its legitimate quest for nuclear energy.

"In fact, our support for India in the field of civilian nuclear energy preceded the Indo-US nuclear agreement signed in July last year," Girard pointed out.

"However, we would like India to effectively address the concerns of certain sceptical members of the NSG regarding the opening up of its (nuclear) facilities (to international inspections), its separation plan, use of nuclear fuel and safeguards," he said.

"Though many countries like the US and UK besides France support waiver of restrictions on India, bodies like the NSG work on consensus and the need to evolve that is very crucial," the French Ambassador said.

Girard said he believed India would be able to 'successfully convince' members of the international community and 'mobilise support' from other countries in this regard.

Asked about China which has not yet come out with its stand on a waiver for India at the recently-concluded Nuclear Suppliers Group meeting in Rio de Janerio, Girard said Beijing has its 'own concerns' and said, "It was for them to decide what future stand they would take".

"We are absolutely and totally for a waiver for India at the NSG. It will be good for the international community to have India, a country with a good nuclear track record, to be gifted with a new status," he said.