Tuesday, September 5 2006 11:18 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Paris: France yesterday (Sept 4,2006) said it was working out details of a 'broad agreement with India for supply of nuclear reactors for meeting New Delhi's civil energy needs.

"We understand the critical energy needs of India and the process for a broad agreement on supply of nuclear reactors and fissile material is at a crucial stage," French Defence Ministry Spokesman Jean-Francois said.

He was speaking after after a meeting here between the visiting Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee and his French counterpart Michelle Aliotte-Marie during which the two sides discussed ways to chalk out cooperation in civilian nuclear energy and took stock of Indo-French defence projects.

They also reviewed the situation in Lebanon and Afghanistan.

Mukherjee and Alliote had a one-to-one meeting followed by delegation-level talks between the two countries.

"The nuclear energy agreement has to be compatible with French Government concerns on non-proliferation and should not send wrong signals to other countries," the French spokesman said.

He said the two countries also discussed India's requests for collaboration in the high-tech weapon systems and progress in the current weapons supply projects.

Elaborating on the situation in Lebanon, he said the French Government has made it known to India that it wants the continued presence of Indian troops with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.