Pak-French Nuclear Cooperation [possibly]

[haawk]

Nuclear trade: France not to treat Pakistan on a par with India

Sandeep Dikshit
NEW DELHI: Though Pakistan had requested cooperation in nuclear energy from France, there is no likelihood of that happening, said sources privy to the recent meeting between Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and French President Nicolas Sarkozy. All that France has offered in the nuclear arena is cooperation to ensure the safety of the nuclear installations in Pakistan, they added.

“Nuclear energy is a special form of energy due to links between civilian and military uses. India’s was a very special case. A series of safeguards have been incorporated,” said the sources while seeking to set the record straight on Pakistan’s assertions that France had offered to cooperate in the field of nuclear energy.

“Not in same category”
“Countries should respect international obligations. India and Pakistan are not in the same category. Discussions with India were held for 10 years after which a system was devised that was acceptable to the world,” they said while clarifying Pakistan’s assertion that Mr. Sarkozy has offered civilian nuclear technology to Pakistan, which was termed by Islamabad as a move of “significant development.”

The sources said Paris clarified that the main focus was on the fight against terrorism, help to refugees and the stabilisation of Pakistan. With the democratic transformation in Pakistan, Europe and the U.S. are keen to work with the dispensation in power since it was essentially against fundamentalism, stood against communalism and was for secularism.

Tackling terror
The pressing question is of international terrorism, which is deeply rooted in Pakistan, exploring a combination of economic help and some cooperation in security, with the main aim being the fight against terrorism. Also, the last thing the West wants is for the refugees to be left alone by the democratic world and being helped instead by Islamic fundamentalists, said the sources.

 

[IceCold]

Nuclear trade: France not to treat Pakistan on a par with India

Sandeep Dikshit
NEW DELHI: Though Pakistan had requested cooperation in nuclear energy from France, there is no likelihood of that happening, said sources privy to the recent meeting between Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and French President Nicolas Sarkozy. All that France has offered in the nuclear arena is cooperation to ensure the safety of the nuclear installations in Pakistan, they added.

“Nuclear energy is a special form of energy due to links between civilian and military uses. India’s was a very special case. A series of safeguards have been incorporated,” said the sources while seeking to set the record straight on Pakistan’s assertions that France had offered to cooperate in the field of nuclear energy.

“Not in same category”
“Countries should respect international obligations. India and Pakistan are not in the same category. Discussions with India were held for 10 years after which a system was devised that was acceptable to the world,” they said while clarifying Pakistan’s assertion that Mr. Sarkozy has offered civilian nuclear technology to Pakistan, which was termed by Islamabad as a move of “significant development.”

The sources said Paris clarified that the main focus was on the fight against terrorism, help to refugees and the stabilisation of Pakistan. With the democratic transformation in Pakistan, Europe and the U.S. are keen to work with the dispensation in power since it was essentially against fundamentalism, stood against communalism and was for secularism.

Tackling terror
The pressing question is of international terrorism, which is deeply rooted in Pakistan, exploring a combination of economic help and some cooperation in security, with the main aim being the fight against terrorism. Also, the last thing the West wants is for the refugees to be left alone by the democratic world and being helped instead by Islamic fundamentalists, said the sources.

A link would be appreciated....don't you think?

 

[BaburCM]

^^ Well, Sandeep Dickshit says plenty for me.

 

[sohailbutt]

Talks on France civil nuclear deal from July: FM​

MULTAN: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Friday the ongoing army operation in Swat could be expanded to other troubled areas ‘as we have to win this war, and we would win the war’.

Mr Qureshi told reporters at the Multan airport no timeframe could be given for the army operation as the government had to achieve some objectives.

He said that a meeting to be held in Presidency on Friday (today) would finalise a line of action for the Swat operation.

About a civil nuclear technology accord with France, he said Pakistan and France would start dialogue over the issue in July and by October the agreement would be in final stages.

He said the government had allocated a five per cent quota for the religious minorities in all government jobs as, what he said, it would improve country’s image among the international community.

He condemned the arrest of San Suu Kyi in Myanmar and demanded her immediate release saying that he had directed foreign office to summon the Myanmar envoy to express Pakistan’s concerns over the unfortunate development.

He said that the federal government had announced several measures to help the internally displaced people (IDPs) which included financial assistance, soft loans, waiver of agriculture loans, makeshift schools in camps and admissions of professional students from the insurgency-hit areas to institutions in peaceful areas.

He said the government would launch a vaccination campaign from May 26 for the children in troubled areas besides issuing Benazir Smart Cards for the affected families.

He said his ministry had told all Pakistani embassies to contact expatriates and other people to generate resources for the displaced families and that charities and doctors willing to come to Pakistan for relief operations would be facilitated.

He said the Foreign Office would brief the envoys of several countries on the prevailing human crisis in Pakistan.

He said the government had established an Emergency Response Unit, led by the NWFP chief secretary, besides another Special Support Group, led by Mangla corps commander, to offer relief to displaced people while a website (helpidp.org - Emergency Response Unit, Govt. of NWFP, Pakistan) had also been launched through which people could get information on IDPs and relief operation.

He said the government had successfully expressed its viewpoint on drone attacks at all international forums and now several American think tanks were opposing the attacks.

He said the government remained successful to get pledges of $5.28 billion at a Tokyo summit besides $1.5 billion annual aid for seven years and $1.97 billion emergency relief fund from the US.

DAWN.COM | Pakistan | Talks on France civil nuclear deal from July: FM

 

[BaburCM]

Another confirmation that things are on the right track. The French are in a good mood.

 

[Neo]

A timely French offer​

EDITORIAL (May 21 2009): Speaking in Paris on Friday following President Asif Ali Zardari's meeting with his host, President Nicolas Sarkozy, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi told reporters, "France has agreed to a transfer of civilian nuclear technology to Pakistan." He quoted President Sarkozy as having said, "what can be done for India can be done for Pakistan as well."

He further disclosed that negotiations on an accord will begin in another two months time, ie, in July, and a framework agreement and memorandum of understanding is likely to be signed during the French President's scheduled visit to Pakistan in September. This offer by the French was further renewed in their deliberations with the Chief of the Army Staff General Ashfaq Kayani during his recent visit to France.

This comes as a double dose of morale boosting news for Pakistan in the present trying times. It recognises this country's rightful status as an important regional player in South Asia - a status the US formally downgraded recently, hyphenating it with Afghanistan in its new ****** policy formulation. In the meantime, much to the chagrin of our people, US media and think-tank pundits have been repeatedly raising concerns about Pakistan becoming a failed state and its nuclear arsenal falling into the hands of Taliban and al Qaeda.

In fact, America's right-wing Fox News aired a disturbing story the same day Sarkozy held talks with Zardari. Quoting American intelligence sources it said, the US' Afghanistan-based Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) is working on a secondary mission of securing Pakistan's mobile arsenal of nuclear warheads if it appears that the country is about to be overwhelmed by the Taliban, al Qaeda or 'other elements'.

The French offer of a civilian nuclear deal at this point shows that the talk of Pakistani nukes falling into wrong hands is mere scare mongering and, as suspected by many in Pakistan, it may actually be a contrived campaign to deprive the country of its nuclear capability.

France's willingness to help with a civilian nuclear programme serves as a significant reassurance that Pakistan is fully capable of dealing with the challenges posed by extremist elements, and to act as a responsible nuclear state. As regards, a civilian nuclear programme, it is important for Pakistan not only because India got a deal for one from the Bush administration, but because it needs the technology to fulfil its increasing energy demand, and also for use in many different areas of science related progress and development.

Since Pakistan is already a declared nuclear state, there is no danger that the technology might be used for making bombs. India's example shows that a civilian nuclear deal is open to scrutiny via the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which is why the Indo-US agreement ran into trouble for a while.

The Opposition parties did not like its provisions that required New Delhi to separate the proposed civilian component from the existing military one, and to lay open the new programme to IAEA inspections. Since Pakistan's weapons programme is India-centric, based on a minimal deterrence approach, such problems are unlikely to arise here. Hence, Qureshi said Pakistan wanted the world to feel secure, and would give all necessary guarantees.

 

[Screaming Skull]

Sarkozy could visit Pakistan in autumn to sign nuclear deal​

Tuesday, 26 May, 2009

ABU DHABI: France and Pakistan are negotiating a partnership including nuclear cooperation and French President Nicolas Sarkozy could travel to Pakistan in the autumn to sign a deal, a source close to Sarkozy said on Monday.

The source said talks were ongoing on a wide variety of issues including nuclear security, an extremely sensitive question since a Pakistani scientist was at the centre of the world’s biggest nuclear proliferation scandal in 2004.

‘We’re in the process of negotiating. We’ve given ourselves two or three more months,’ said the source close to Sarkozy during a short visit by the French president to Abu Dhabi, where he will open a French military base on Tuesday.

Sarkozy met President Asif Ali Zardari in Paris on May 15 and was reported by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi as saying that France wanted Islamabad to obtain a wide-ranging deal to buy nuclear equipment like the one granted to India.

France has not confirmed that was exactly what Sarkozy had told Zardari. Paris said only that Sarkozy wanted Pakistan to improve its nuclear security and was prepared to cooperate with the Asian country in that respect.

The source close to Sarkozy said that since his meeting with Zardari, the French leader had also met the Pakistani army chief of staff. The source said Zardari had been informed of that.

DAWN.COM | World | Sarkozy could visit Pakistan in autumn to sign nuclear deal

 

[TOPGUN]

I hope this goes through its our turn now! don't keep your fingers crossed haterz

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

I'll be surprised if this results in an agreement similar to the Indian nuke deal - more than likely this may be a pre-cursor to the sort of agreement the Indians obtained, with cooperation on 'nucelar safety' issues, or anything not governed by the NSG, with a commitment that France will engage more more comprehensively with Pakistan once Pakistan manages to get NSG approval.

The French statement of building a 'strategic relationship' with Pakistan is important in that respect, that they are open to the idea of a similar arrangement with Pakistan, contingent upon Pakistan winning the support of other major players in the NSG, especially the US.

This is where Pakistan should really push the US to show its commitment to Pakistan and tangibly show that it intends to be a long term partner by negotiating a waiver for Pakistan from the NSG, even if the US itself does not trade in nuclear fuel and technology with Pakistan.

The 'proliferation' accusation is a red herring IMO, given that countless entities in the West were invovled in proliferating technology to other countries - how did AQ Khan's black market work after all? It was supplied by Western entities.

 

[mhacsan]

Nuclear trade: France not to treat Pakistan on a par with India

Sandeep Dikshit
NEW DELHI: Though Pakistan had requested cooperation in nuclear energy from France, there is no likelihood of that happening, said sources privy to the recent meeting between Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and French President Nicolas Sarkozy. All that France has offered in the nuclear arena is cooperation to ensure the safety of the nuclear installations in Pakistan, they added.

“Nuclear energy is a special form of energy due to links between civilian and military uses. India’s was a very special case. A series of safeguards have been incorporated,” said the sources while seeking to set the record straight on Pakistan’s assertions that France had offered to cooperate in the field of nuclear energy.

“Not in same category”
“Countries should respect international obligations. India and Pakistan are not in the same category. Discussions with India were held for 10 years after which a system was devised that was acceptable to the world,” they said while clarifying Pakistan’s assertion that Mr. Sarkozy has offered civilian nuclear technology to Pakistan, which was termed by Islamabad as a move of “significant development.”

The sources said Paris clarified that the main focus was on the fight against terrorism, help to refugees and the stabilisation of Pakistan. With the democratic transformation in Pakistan, Europe and the U.S. are keen to work with the dispensation in power since it was essentially against fundamentalism, stood against communalism and was for secularism.

Tackling terror
The pressing question is of international terrorism, which is deeply rooted in Pakistan, exploring a combination of economic help and some cooperation in security, with the main aim being the fight against terrorism. Also, the last thing the West wants is for the refugees to be left alone by the democratic world and being helped instead by Islamic fundamentalists, said the sources.

Mr Dik **** ,,, Sandeep, u might have a discouraging response as ur name stands whatever it is. here comes the reassurance from the sources close to president Sirkozi. it is sad to hear any positive news for pakistan gets a hard morsal for indians, let alone the digestion. its not ur play gorund where if u can ouster pakistani team out of the fear they might win the champion leagues but this is global game play, which some of them u win and part of it u will lose. but the depression u get from it might drive u to pick the name as Dip ****

i serioulsy think that this could be the response of India sitting in the lap of USA, and france wants the equall share of strategic dept in this region as new garison openes up. as Rafeal goes out of MRCA France look to strengthen the realtion with pakistan to balance the power shift form strategic point of view.

in response to this deal France might ask pakistan to buy their state of the art -Scorpion- submarines which initially was in competition with germans U214 but later on droped by pakistan as india went for Skorpion and pakistan went for U214- traditionaly both never went for the same class equipment.

this could also open the doors for pakistan to get their hands on Rafeal fighter birds, which could be significant but i dont see it happening in near future as we dont have money, plus pakistan will wait until confused indian decides the aircraft out of MRCA. which probably be F18IN i guess and pakistan will develop its response as it has happened in the past, J10, J11, Rafeal(now). it would be interesting if india picks rafeal(as some sources say rafeal is back in MRCA), that will put india-US relation under strain, also with their nuclear-civil deal, plus 12 billion money lost and it will also be interesting to see how france reacts in case of pakistan civil nuclear deal, which is now in the pipe line

thank you france for giving headache to indians, moreover for helping us

 

[sergente rehan]

I will not cheer until French President will visit Pakistan and sign the deal!! (InshAllah it will be signed soon)

Now i can only hope that everything goes smoothly for Pakistan in every sector from economic to Defence.

The only thing i'm sure of is indian crying to the whole world....like they are used to do....

 

[Enigma SIG]

I find it hard to believe that france will give us a nuclear deal keeping in mind the current fiasco our country is in. It will most probably entail checks to ensure nuclear proliferation does not take place (france acting on behalf of the US so our people dont shout that you have given the access to the nuclear weapons to the US).

 

[sergente rehan]

I find it hard to believe that france will give us a nuclear deal keeping in mind the current fiasco our country is in. It will most probably entail checks to ensure nuclear proliferation does not take place (france acting on behalf of the US so our people dont shout that you have given the access to the nuclear weapons to the US).

but it's just a civiulian nuclear deal...they are getting nowhere near our nuclear weapons....

 

[Hasnain2009]

Pak, France will ink civil nuclear deal in December: FO - GEO.tv​

Updated at: 1539 PST, Thursday, June 04, 2009

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and France would sign civil nuclear deal in December.

In a weekly press briefing, foreign office spokesman said initial negotiations for nuclear deal will be completed in July and the deal would be signed in December.

He said Pakistan wants early resumption of talks with India but no conditions being attached for talks.

Replying to a question regarding Kashmir issue, spokesman said there is no confusion or compromise made on Kashmir issue. He termed the statement of Indian external minister’s statement about restoration of peace as positive and said Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir would meet Indian High Commissioner today in this connection. Pakistan is in touch with US for the resolution of Kashmir issue.

Foreign office spokesman said government is appealing against release of Hafiz Saeed and we will wait for verdict.

 

[Patriot]

I find it hard to believe that france will give us a nuclear deal keeping in mind the current fiasco our country is in. It will most probably entail checks to ensure nuclear proliferation does not take place (france acting on behalf of the US so our people dont shout that you have given the access to the nuclear weapons to the US).

I had the same thoughts but someone on PDF Mentioned that the checks will be on FRANCE BUILT Reactors only and these reactors will be 100% civillian use meaning no weapons will be built using these reactors so nothing to worry about.