[The news report reproduced at sl. III below points out that a "Memorandum of Understanding was signed [back in] in February 2009 between Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited and AREVA for setting up 6x1650 MWe EPR (EPR is a third generation pressurised water reactor (PWR) units at Jaitapur. The statement said the status in regard to the first two EPR units was reviewed and NPCIL and AREVA were engaged actively in techno-commercial discussions. Mr. Hollande and the then Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh had hoped for an expeditious conclusion of the negotiations." Al the three news reports reproduced below highlight the fact that the nuclear deal between India (NPCIL) and France (Areva) remains to be clinched. Earlier it had been reported that the main bottleneck is the issue of price. (See: <http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/areva-npcil-talks-on-jaitapur-plant-stuck-113021500065_1.html>.) That, in a way, suggested the resolution of the "liability" issue. But a subsequent report contradicted that impression: "the two companies still need to iron out critical issues such as India's Civil Liability for Nuclear Damages Bill, credit arrangements for the construction and the final cost of the project located in Maharashtra." (See: <http://www.livemint.com/Industry/Nayro0SXasLIIssPjCHQ5K/Jaitapur-nuclear-project-unlikely-before-2021-says-Areva.html>, and also <http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/power-from-jaitapur-nplant-will-not-cost-more-than-rs-65unit/article5401446.ece>.) Now the "liability" issue, as it appears, is back to the centre stage. (And, of course, there is no indication that the "price" issue has been resolved either.)
While the "breakthrough understanding" between Obama and and Modi is being suggested to be used as the template, serious doubts have been raised as regards that very "template" itself. (See: <http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/is-the-india-nuclear-agreement-really-the-breakthrough-obama-promised/2015/02/04/bc0b0dd2-abc1-11e4-8876-460b1144cbc1_story.html>.) That makes things even more interesting.] I/III. http://www.telegraphindia.com/1150206/jsp/nation/story_1764.jsp Friday , February 6 , 2015 US nuclear 'breakthrough' cloud on France deal Our special correspondent New Delhi, Feb. 5:France has indicated it may want to use elements of the nuclear liability "breakthrough" India and the US have claimed, in setting up its own reactors in this country, signalling potential for competitive bargaining over the terms New Delhi offers to different nations. India last year offered France and Russia - the two nations other than the US that have committed to selling nuclear reactors - an insurance pool created by Indian public sector firms to fund any compensation following an accident from their reactors. The US had so far appeared unconvinced by the insurance pool plan. Its apparent turnaround during President Barack Obama's India visit last week has sparked speculation in the capital's diplomatic enclave that New Delhi may have offered Washington a particularly sweet deal. "This project is very significant for both nations," a senior French official said here yesterday, referring to the plans by French public sector firm Areva to set up six reactors, each of 1650MW, at Maharashtra's Jaitapur. "We don't know the details of the agreement between India and the US yet, but if it can assist in our project, we will definitely look at it." Two of France's top leaders, foreign minister Laurent Fabius and minister of energy Segolene Royal, today discussed the India-US agreement on nuclear liability when they met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and foreign minister Sushma Swaraj here. "As far as France is concerned,it is normal for us to keep them informed about how we are proceeding (on the nuclear liability dispute with the US)," foreign ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said today. Royal will tomorrow hold talks with railway minister Suresh Prabhu and environment minister Prakash Javadekar. Fabius and Royal also addressed a Delhi Sustainable Development Dialogue today. Paris is hosting the next round of talks on climate change at the end of the year where negotiators are hoping to arrive at some convergence on a strategy to tackle global warming. The meeting between Fabius and Sushma was largely aimed at preparing an agenda for a visit by Modi to Paris this year, possibly as early as April when the Prime Minister is scheduled to travel to Germany for the Hannover trade fair. Fabius and Royal also reaffirmed France's commitment to helping India battle climate change. France had last year committed $1.3 billion (around Rs 8,060 crore) as assistance to India, and will during the visit of its leaders - the numbers two and three in the French government - top that aid up by another $1.3 billion. But a key element of supporting India against global warming will be aiding New Delhi in expanding its civil nuclear programme, Indian officials have long said. That view was today echoed by the French officials. France is pandering to Modi's pet initiative of "Make in India" by promising to build "large parts of the Areva reactors" in India. And unlike the US, France had also never sought any change in the nuclear liability law despite its concerns that the law was draconian and out of line with global standards, the senior French official said. "There is no competition between America and France. But we have long stated that we will work within the framework of Indian law. We still maintain that," the official said. The Indian foreign office also pointed to France's acceptance of India's liability law."Every country has a different approach to this matter," Akbaruddin said, citing the example of uranium India already sources from France. "With France, the template of our engagement is already set." II/III. http://www.firstpost.com/world/india-france-breakthrough-nuclear-liabilities-possible-says-foreign-minister-2082673.html India, France breakthrough on nuclear liabilities possible, says Foreign Minister Feb 6, 2015 08:04 IST New Delhi: India and France can reach an understanding on the vexed issue of civil nuclear liability in the same manner as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Barack Obama ended the stalemate on this subject, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said on Thursday. Fabius, who held a meeting with the Prime Minister, said that Modi has agreed to visit France "this spring" and it was for him to say how India "considers" the issue of civil nuclear liability in regard to deals with other nations. AFPAFP "Indian Prime Minister will say what he considers. He belongs to India to decide for India. But I think the elements which have been agreed can apply to other nations also," Fabius said responding to a query by reporters on whether both India and France can agree to an understanding on the same template in which India and US agreed on civil nuclear liability issue during Obama's visit last month. The visiting French Minister said during his meeting with Modi, they "touched upon" different subjects of strategic partnership "which is very impressive" between both the nations including defence, nuclear energy, transportation, urban planning, urban development, tourism, space, education and many many areas. "We did not discuss that in full details but we shall be honoured by official visit of Prime Minister Modi this spring," Fabius said, adding his government shall prepare this visit with "particular accuracy" in order to have solutions. He said he was "impressed by the constant occupation of Prime Minister Modi about our positive partnership." The French Foreign Minister said the people of France were "moved" by Modi's "special phone calls" to French President Nicolas Hollande after the terror attack on satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo in Paris last month. "After the attack in Paris, Prime Minister Modi has been kind enough to make special phone calls to French President and the French people have been... really..it has moved us," he said. Fabius said he and Modi also discussed about terrorism "because the Prime Minister saw the context...common concern everywhere ..." PTI III. http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/indous-nuclear-deal-can-apply-to-other-countries/article6862099.ece Updated: February 6, 2015 01:56 IST 'Indo-U.S. nuclear deal can apply to other countries' MEENA MENON France's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Laurent Fabius, on Thursday accepted that the elements of the recent Indo-U.S. agreement on nuclear liability could apply to other nations. In response to questions on the India-U.S. understanding last month on how to resolve the liability issue, he said it was for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to decide when he visits France in spring (between March and June) later this year. At a press conference with Union Minister of State for Environment Prakash Javadekar, Mr. Fabius said he discussed nuclear issues among many other aspects in his meeting with Mr. Modi. On Wednesday, French embassy sources said France was keen on the details of the civil nuclear cooperation between India and the U.S. India and France already have a civil nuclear cooperation under which the French company Areva is to set up six nuclear reactors in Jaitapur. In a joint statement last February after the visit of President François Hollande to India, there was a reference to the ongoing collaborative projects on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, and India and France agreed to further strengthen bilateral civil nuclear scientific cooperation. ***A Memorandum of Understanding was signed in February 2009 between Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited and AREVA for setting up 6x1650 MWe EPR (EPR is a third generation pressurised water reactor (PWR) units at Jaitapur. The statement said the status in regard to the first two EPR units was reviewed and NPCIL and AREVA were engaged actively in techno-commercial discussions. Mr. Hollande and the then Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh had hoped for an expeditious conclusion of the negotiations.*** [Emphasis added.] Regarding his meeting with Mr. Modi, Mr. Fabius said, "We touched on different subjects of our strategic partnership in various fields, energy, urban planning, space and tourism and many areas. We did not discuss in full detail on every subject." ***He added that issues could be discussed further during Mr. Modi's official visit*** [emphasis added]. He also mentioned Mr. Modi's special phone call to the French President after the recent terror attack in Paris. The issue of terrorism was also discussed as it was a common concern. Mr. Javadekar said he and Mr. Fabius spoke on various issues of environment protection and climate change. He said that Mr. Fabius had agreed to consider a ministerial or high-level official meeting sometime during the middle of this year to discuss and sort out issues which often remain unresolved at the negotiator's level. -- Peace Is Doable -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
