Inter-governmental agreement to protect Indian interest: France

New Delhi: A day after the CAG report on the Rafale deal was made public, the French ambassador to India Alexandre Ziegler said that the inter-governmental agreement under which the fighters were bought would protect Indian interest as Paris was responsible for pricing and delivery of the aircraft.

The French side has also reiterated its stand that there was no pressure from the Indian side on the selection of offset partners for the €7.87-billion deal and that it was up to the companies involved to choose Indian collaborators.

“There is nothing stronger in our system that protects the deal and Indian interest than the (intergovernmental) agreement.


In our system when the government signs a deal under its name, it makes us responsible as a government for price and delivery,” Ziegler said.

The diplomat reiterated the French position that selection of Indian partners was not decided by the government.

“There was absolutely no pressure; the selection of offset partners has nothing to do with the government. It is a decision that is to be made by the companies involved,” he said.

France will be bringing the largest foreign delegation for the Aero India show in Bangalore next week and that will include three Rafale jets. These jets are expected to be flown at the show by senior IAF officers.

A total of 49 French companies will participate in the show, the ambassador said.