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India
and France, recalling their deep ties of friendship and cooperation and
the importance of the Strategic Dialogue established between them in
January 1998, recognize that nuclear energy provides a safe,
environmental friendly and sustainable source of energy. They underline
the need to further develop international cooperation in promoting the
use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. They believe that nuclear
energy will provide an indispensable source of energy to future
generations.
India and France consider that proliferation of nuclear, chemical and
biological weapons, as well as their means of delivery, constitutes a
threat to international peace and security. They share common concerns
and objectives in the field of non-proliferation of weapons of mass
destruction and their means of delivery including in view of possible
linkages with terrorism.
India and France recall their past exchanges on civilian nuclear energy.
They stress with satisfaction the development, since the creation of the
Strategic Dialogue, of a fruitful bilateral dialogue on civil nuclear
cooperation and on nuclear safety and, in accordance with their
respective international obligations and commitments, the joint projects
that are taking place as a result of this dialogue.
They
recall that the joint statement issued by the President of the Republic
of France and the Prime Minister of the Republic of India on 12
September 2005 stated that India and France would work towards the
conclusion of a bilateral nuclear cooperation agreement. India and
France affirm their willingness to further develop their cooperation in
the use of nuclear energy exclusively for peaceful purposes under that
agreement including in nuclear power generation, with a view to
achieving sustainable development.
India and France recall the framework of the bilateral working group on
Energy established in January 1998, of the France-India Joint Committee
for Atomic Energy created by the 16 September 2002 MoU signed between
AEC (Atomic Energy Commission), India, and CEA (Commissariat a
l’Energie Atomique), France, and of the dialogue between their Nuclear
Safety Authorities launched by the 29 July 1999 Arrangement, renewed by
the 24 October 2005 Arrangement between AERB (Atomic Energy Regulatory
Board), India, and DGSNR (Direction Generale de la Surete Nucleaire et
de la Radioprotection), France. They express their willingness to expand
and strengthen their bilateral dialogue on peaceful uses of nuclear
energy.
In accordance with the principles governing their respective nuclear
policies, India and France confirm that they are engaging in discussions
to conclude a bilateral cooperation agreement on the development of
nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, subject to their respective
international commitments and obligations. India and France look forward
to adjustment of international civil nuclear cooperation framework with
respect to India and confirm their intention to work to that end so that
the agreement can be implemented fully.
In this
respect, India and France share the same understanding of the following:
1) Cooperation under the future agreement may cover the following areas:
basic and applied research not requiring the supply of uranium enriched
to twenty (20) per cent or greater in the isotope U235; development and
use of nuclear energy applications in the fields of agronomy, biology,
earth sciences and medicine, and in industry; application of nuclear
energy to power generation, including setting up of power projects;
nuclear fuel management; nuclear waste management; nuclear safety,
radioprotection and environmental protection; prevention of, and
response to, emergency situations resulting from radioactive or nuclear
accidents; public awareness and acceptance of the benefits of the use of
nuclear energy exclusively for peaceful purposes; and in any other field
as jointly agreed by the Parties to that agreement.
2) Cooperation under the future agreement may take the following forms:
exchange and training of scientific and technical staff; exchange of
scientific and technical information; participation by scientific and
technical staff of one Party in research and development activities
conducted by the other Party; joint conduct of research and engineering
activities, including joint research and experimentation (that is to say
for which the two Parties are providing equivalent resources);
organization of scientific and technical conferences and symposiums;
provision of material, nuclear material, equipment, technology,
facilities and services; consultations and cooperation in relevant
international fora; and any other form of cooperation jointly agreed by
the Parties to that agreement.
3)
Agreements already signed between the concerned institutions of both
countries such as DAE (Department of Atomic Energy) and CEA; BARC (Bhabha
Atomic Research Centre) and IRSN (Institut de Radioprotection et de
Surete Nucleaire); AERB and DGSNR in the field of atomic energy will
become a part of this framework agreement and will continue to be
implemented as at present.
4) India and France will ensure that cooperation pursuant to the future
agreement shall be exclusively for peaceful purposes and covered where
applicable by appropriate safeguards agreements with the IAEA. The
cooperation agreement, and as appropriate, subsequent specific
agreements, will also address issues relating to inter alia
confidentiality of information, third party nuclear liability,
intellectual property, measures relating to physical protection and
retransfers to third States.
Done
at New Delhi on this twentieth day of February 2006 in English and
French languages.
For the Republic of India: Dr. Anil Kakodkar, Chairman, Atomic
Energy Commission
For the French Republic: Mr. Philippe Douste-Blazy, Minister of Foreign
Affairs
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