India may sign N-deal with France on Tuesday

NEW DELHI: Even as India was poised to start civilian nuclear cooperation with countries around the world, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh maintained that India does not want another nuclear weapons state in its neighbourhood and would not support Iran���s nuclear weapons programme.

Mr Singh reiterated that India did not support Iran���s nuclear programme. ``We don���t support a nuclear weapon state emerging in our region. So there is no question of supporting nuclear weapon ambitions of Iran,��� Mr Singh said in Marseilles on Monday. He said that he had discussed Iran���s nuclear programme with Mr Sarkozy.

���I have said earlier and I repeat that Iran is a signatory to the non-proliferation treaty and is entitled to all that is needed for development of its civil nuclear programme. And as a member of NPT, it has also to undertake all obligations of the NPT,��� he said.

Coming back to India���s civilian nuclear future, Mr Singh indicated that France and India could sign an agreement on civilian nuclear cooperation on Tuesday. Mr Singh, who had to leave the US without the nuclear deal, said that India looked forward to working with France and other countries in the civilian nuclear sector.

He further said that said that some agreement was possible with France when he meets French president Nicholas Sarkozy for bilateral talks on Tuesday.

``Sometime ago, the Nuclear Suppliers Group adjusted its guidelines in the matter of civil nuclear cooperation with India. We look forward to working with France and other countries in this area. We are having a summit tomorrow (with France), I hope some results will come out of this summit,��� said the prime minister who is also expecting good news soon on the US Congress front.

Mr Sarkozy called Mr Singh���s visit special and said that he would discuss with Mr Singh the issue of nuclear cooperation and take a decision. ``This visit holds a special meaning for me... We will launch our civil nuclear cooperation which will become a cornerstone of our partnership,��� the French president was quoted as saying.