Let's wait till deal is in place: Pranab
"Some support" from Paris on nuclear pact with U.S.
Tehran "a trusted friend" of India
Trip not for discussing weapons' systems
Defence cooperation pact with Germany proposed
Progress would be made on the United States-India civilian nuclear deal when the countries actually clinch a final agreement, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee told presspersons here on Sunday. Asked about the progress made and how soon the deal would be concluded, he said that "till today" India did not have access to nuclear technology and materials even for peaceful purposes.
Talking to correspondents accompanying him on a six-day visit to France and Germany, Mr. Mukherjee conceded that India was getting some "little bit of support" in the civilian nuclear area from France.
Nuclear embargo
According to him, New Delhi's "basic objective" was to enter into an arrangement with the U.S. for access to civilian nuclear technology to end the embargo on India. "If the U.S. removes this embargo and lifts the ban, then all other follow-up actions will take place. But it [the civilian nuclear agreement] is still in the process. Even the legislation in the American Congress has not been finalised."
Talks with the U.S. were on, Mr. Mukherjee, who will lead India's delegation to the coming session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, said.
A certain process had begun in the U.S., but "we shall have to wait" till the final legislation took shape.
Asked about India's position on Iran and the attention its nuclear question was receiving in the West, the Defence Minister, who stopped over in the Iranian city of Tabriz for having his special aircraft refuelled en route to Paris, said Tehran was a "trusted friend" of India.
"Our relationship with one country does not depend on that country's relationship with other countries," he said in a possible reference to the equation between Iran and the U.S. "It is independent of that."
Asked about the objective of his trip to Paris and Berlin, he said it was not intended to discuss any particular weapons' systems. "I have come to deepen our relationships."
Acquisition procedure
On India's intention to purchase 126 multi-role combat aircraft, Mr. Mukherjee said the acquisition would take place according to the revised acquisition procedure announced recently in New Delhi. A request for proposals would be floated, and then the "case" would be decided.
Independent position
Pointing out that the French had taken an independent position on the supply of weapons to India, he pointed out that Paris was one of the biggest sources of arms for New Delhi. He proposed to sign a defence cooperation agreement with Germany during the current trip.
This, he stated, would transform the Indo-German relationship from that of a "buyer-seller" to one where joint production, joint ventures and transfer of technology could prove possible.
"Some support" from Paris on nuclear pact with U.S.
Tehran "a trusted friend" of India
Trip not for discussing weapons' systems
Defence cooperation pact with Germany proposed
Progress would be made on the United States-India civilian nuclear deal when the countries actually clinch a final agreement, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee told presspersons here on Sunday. Asked about the progress made and how soon the deal would be concluded, he said that "till today" India did not have access to nuclear technology and materials even for peaceful purposes.
Talking to correspondents accompanying him on a six-day visit to France and Germany, Mr. Mukherjee conceded that India was getting some "little bit of support" in the civilian nuclear area from France.
Nuclear embargo
According to him, New Delhi's "basic objective" was to enter into an arrangement with the U.S. for access to civilian nuclear technology to end the embargo on India. "If the U.S. removes this embargo and lifts the ban, then all other follow-up actions will take place. But it [the civilian nuclear agreement] is still in the process. Even the legislation in the American Congress has not been finalised."
Talks with the U.S. were on, Mr. Mukherjee, who will lead India's delegation to the coming session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, said.
A certain process had begun in the U.S., but "we shall have to wait" till the final legislation took shape.
Asked about India's position on Iran and the attention its nuclear question was receiving in the West, the Defence Minister, who stopped over in the Iranian city of Tabriz for having his special aircraft refuelled en route to Paris, said Tehran was a "trusted friend" of India.
"Our relationship with one country does not depend on that country's relationship with other countries," he said in a possible reference to the equation between Iran and the U.S. "It is independent of that."
Asked about the objective of his trip to Paris and Berlin, he said it was not intended to discuss any particular weapons' systems. "I have come to deepen our relationships."
Acquisition procedure
On India's intention to purchase 126 multi-role combat aircraft, Mr. Mukherjee said the acquisition would take place according to the revised acquisition procedure announced recently in New Delhi. A request for proposals would be floated, and then the "case" would be decided.
Independent position
Pointing out that the French had taken an independent position on the supply of weapons to India, he pointed out that Paris was one of the biggest sources of arms for New Delhi. He proposed to sign a defence cooperation agreement with Germany during the current trip.
This, he stated, would transform the Indo-German relationship from that of a "buyer-seller" to one where joint production, joint ventures and transfer of technology could prove possible.