Sarkozy seeks civil nuclear deal with India

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - French President Nicolas Sarkozy visited India on Friday to cement ties with a booming Asian economic power, trying to boost civil nuclear cooperation and defence deals.

Sarkozy also echoed Britain's recent support for India's bid to become a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, where Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States have wielded exclusive veto power since 1945.

Sarkozy voiced support for India's controversial nuclear deal with the United States. If finalized, the deal would allow civil nuclear technology exporters like France to participate in a billion-dollar business with India.

The deal aims to give India access to U.S. nuclear fuel and equipment for the first time in more than 30 years, even though India has tested nuclear weapons and refused to join non-proliferation agreements.

"France will be an advocate for India over access to civilian nuclear (technology)," Sarkozy told reporters.

A joint declaration between the two governments said that "France and India have finalized negotiation in regard to reaching a bilateral agreement for civil nuclear cooperation."

In a possibly controversial move, France also announced on Friday that the government will give a prestigious award, the Prix Simone de Beauvoir, to Taslima Nasreen, a Bangladeshi author exiled in India who recently sparked riots by Muslims offended by her books.

Threats against her have forced authorities to indefinitely house her in a secret security facility in New Delhi, which she has described as "solitary confinement". The Indian government came under attack by the Hindu-nationalist opposition last year for failing to give her enough vocal support.

The French government asked India to take "all measures" needed to help her travel to France for the award.

MILITARY PARADE

Sarkozy, accompanied by a business delegation, met with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday. He will attend a military parade on Saturday with India's president to mark Republic Day.

His visit comes after British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's visit earlier this week, another leader drumming up support for business with the growing economic powerhouse, which is also increasingly playing a more important diplomatic role in Asia.

The nuclear deal, opposed by the Indian government's leftist allies, needs the support of the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), whose members work to prevent nuclear exports for peaceful purposes from being used to make atomic weapons.

It must agree unanimously on an exemption for India if the deal is to go ahead, as New Delhi has not signed the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Many think the deal could be dead after leftist opposition, but the government still hopes to seal it.

"We will pass the operational phase as soon as India concludes an accord with the IAEA and that the international rules of the suppliers' group are changed," Sarkozy said.

India has forged strong defence ties with France in recent years, with deals for Mirage jets and Scorpene submarines to modernize its military, the world's fourth-largest.

Officials say the revival of the Eurocopter deal for 197 military helicopters -- which was dumped by India last month -- could figure in Sarkozy's talks.

France's Dassault Rafale will also compete for a deal to provide India with the world's biggest fighter jet contract in years, expected to top $10.2 billion for 126 fighters.

India's media was at first more interested in the possible visit -- later cancelled -- of Carla Bruni, a singer and former model who was reported to be near to marrying Sarkozy.

Indian newspapers had been full of stories of how a visit by his girlfriend could upset protocol in the deeply conservative country.

(Writing by Alistair Scrutton; Editing by Jonathan Allen and Sanjeev Miglani)