Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
exchanging messages and clarifications, including between the biannual official
sessions. Paris has for instance clarified why France has not supported Madeleine
Albright's attempt to round up, in Warsaw in June 2000, democratic countries
around the United States (for multipolarity is not supposed to rely upon
democracies only).
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India, on her own, has briefed French authorities after US
Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage's presentation of the ballistic
missile defence (BMD) policy to New Delhi in May 2001, as well as before and
after the Agra summit with Pakistan in July 2001.
Essential as it is, the strategic dialogue conducted since 1998 is only a part of
the comprehensive mechanism which now exists between France and India.
Besides the regular meetings between foreign secretaries, working groups
address technical and economic issues (such as information technology, energy,
and scientific cooperation) while the Indo-French Initiative Forum, launched
even before Vajpayee's first visit to Paris, goes organizing high-flying seminars
focused on the way both countries look at global issues. Among the field of
cooperation upgraded after 1998, science and technology appear prominent.
Among the new mechanisms set up in 1998, the Indo-French High Committee for
Defense deserves special attention.
The Science and Technology Links
The Indo-French cooperation in science and technology started soon after
independence, including sensitive nuclear research. The arena covered expanded
after the two governments established in 1987 the Indo-French Centre for the
Promotion of Advanced Research, supporting hundred of joints projects in
fundamental and applied sciences.
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Cooperation in biotechnology and
information technology is fast developing.
In a different field of special relevance, the relationship between the Indian
Space Research Organization (ISRO) and the Centre National d'Études Spatiales
(CNES) is well established. The two conduct joint research on a new satellite for
climate and weather applications, to be launched in 2005 on India's Polar
Satellite Launch Vehicle (ISRO and Arianespace signed an agreement on PSLV
in 1998). Further cooperation is also expected in the fields of aerospace,
aeronautics and space science, under the twin umbrella of the Society of Indian
Aerospace Technologies (SIATI) and the 'Groupe des industries françaises
aéronautiques et spatiales' (French Aerospace Industries Group: GIFAS),
representing hundred of high-tech companies, while the new INSAT-3B ISRO
satellites are still launched from French Guyana.
However, in dual technology sectors, the 'substitution' policy of the past does
not apply any more, and India can no longer knock at the French door for getting
easily what Washington does not want to provide.
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In fields open to joint
research, the prospects of cooperation are large. When transfer is sensitive,
