NEW DELHI: With two days left for President Francois Hollande to land in India, uncertainty looms large over the inking of the multi-million dollar fighter plane deal, with French Ambassador Francois Richier saying that “complex negotiation” was still going on.
India and France are in talks to finalise the inter-governmental agreement for the purchase of 36 Rafale fighter planes. The negotiations are apparently stuck at the cost of the jets — with France putting the figure at $12 billion, while India had estimated $5 billion.
“Discussions are taking place at present. So I cannot say what the outcome of this will be. They are not finalised. Indeed it is a complex negotiation,” French envoy told reporters at a press interaction to mark the visit of President Francois Hollande.
He added that he was hopeful, but not certain. “I will share with you that I am hopeful. But hopeful does not mean we have certitude. Work is being conducted with a lot of energy,” he said. President Hollande will be the chief guest at India’s Republic Day parade — it is for the fifth time that this honour has been bestowed on France. Also, French troops will take part in the parade, which is the first such participation at the parade. With threats from ‘IS’ against the visiting French president, terror is also on top of the agenda of the talks. The ambassador lauded the security forces in Delhi for working with French officials closely to prevent any attack on the visiting delegation, but said it was “sad” that the threat letter had been leaked.
“Highlight (of the agenda) will be terrorism in view of the situation we are in at present, state of emergency, military operations in Syria, Iraq and Africa and the situation in India,” he said.
He thanked Indian security forces for the preparations ahead of Hollande’s visit.