PM discusses climate change issue with Sarkozy, Brown

Ajay Kaul
Port of Spain, Nov 28 (PTI) Ahead of the Copenhagen
Summit on climate change, India Saturday discussed with France
and the UK ways to ensure the success of the event as Indian
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met French President Nicolas
Sarkozy and British Prime Minister Gordan Brown here.
During the separate meetings with Sarkozy and Brown,
Singh told them that India has a major stake in the Copenhagen
meet and would like to see a "balanced, ambitious and
equitable outcome" from it, Indian External Affairs Ministry
spokesman Vishnu Prakash told reporters here.
Singh emphasised on transfer of adequate resources and
technology to developing nations, which is the "key" to the
fight against climate change, Prakash said.
While noting that India was one of the worst affected by
climate change, Singh apprised Sarkozy and Brown of the
unilateral steps taken by his government to tackle the problem
through the National Action Plan, Prakash said.
Singh told them about the thrust being given by India to
renewable energy, like solar energy. He said several proposals
had been received from various countries over dealing with the
climate change and these were under consideration.
Singh, Sarkozy and Brown, who are here to attend the
Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), met on its
sidelines of the summit.
The exchange of views that Singh had with Sarkozy and
Brown on climate change assumes significance as it came just
a week ahead of the Copenhagen Summit on the issue.
India is pressing for a "legally-binding substantive"
outcome at the Copenhagen meet, disapproving the attempt by
the US and some other developed countries to defer a cut in
greenhouse gas emission.
New Delhi maintains that there is still some time left
before the high level segment of the Copenhagen meet beginning
on December 16 and efforts should be made to get the maximum
from it.
France is not a member of Commonwealth, a grouping of 53
former British colonies, but Sarkozy is here as a special
invitee at the Summit, where climate change is the main theme
of deliberations.
Singh and Sarkozy are also understood to have discussed
issues related to defence cooperation, particularly the
upgradation of Mirage-2000 fighters by France.
Both the leaders also talked about the Indo-French civil
nuclear cooperation in the backdrop of French Assembly
adopting a law authorising the ratification of the pact signed
in September last year. The adoption is subsequent to the
passing of the same law by the Senate on October 15, 2009.
Singh and Sarkozy expressed satisfaction over the ongoing
cooperation. India has already allocated a site to France for
setting up a nuclear plant.
The unanimous vote by both assemblies is an important
milestone in the development of the civilian nuclear
cooperation between France and India, the French Foreign
Ministry has said.
"It will enable the early entry into force of the
agreement. It now paves the way for strengthening relations
between French and Indian partners and for more concrete
developments in the industrial field," it said.
"The strengthening of the civilian nuclear cooperation
will contribute to economic growth and development, improve
energy security and contribute to limiting greenhouse gas
emissions," the French ministry said. PTI AKK
MYR