Terrorism, solar energy ties to be discussed during Hollande’s visit

Though, it is yet to be decided who will receive French president Francois Hollande, sources revealed that chief protocol officer of government of India, adviser to Chandigarh administrator, home secretary of Chandigarh and Chandigarh inspector general of police will receive Hollande at Airport. “We are looking into this”.

Meanwhile, asked about the co-development project of a short range surface-to-air missile by the Defence Research and Development Organisation with MBDA of France, the Ambassador said, “We are working on it. It may be just another excited sentiment”, Richier said. “So, EDF will now be in the lead for this kind of operation”.

“Our country has been faced with structural unemployment for two to three decades”, he said, “and this requires that creating jobs becomes our one and only fight”.

Hollande was invited to India to be the guest of honour at this year’s Republic Day parade on Tuesday, the final day of a visit that is expected to focus on trade and security.

High on the agenda will be India’s desire to purchase 36 Rafale combat planes for its air force, which Modi had announced during a visit to Paris in April, touching off several rounds of negotiations over pricing, offsets and servicing. The two will hold extensive talks here a day after during which ways to strengthen counter-terror cooperation in the aftermath of Paris and Pathankot terror strikes will figure prominently. Earlier leaders from that country had come in 1976, 1980, 1998 and 2008. “Terror threats to France are from Syria, Iraq and other such unstable spots faraway from French borders”.

On Republic Day, Hollande will witness a pomp-filled spectacle that combines the Soviet-style showcasing of military hardware with carnivalesque floats featuring dancers and traditional music.

Iran’s return to the global scene is “now possible” after a nuclear deal saw sanctions lifted against the country, French President Francois Hollande said Wednesday. He is expected to pay a visit to the prominent landmarks including Capitol Complex, Sector 17 Plaza, Tagore Theatre and Rock Garden. He will be leaving for Paris in the evening. Later, he will visit Rajghat to pay tributes to Mahatma Gandhi.

Iranian leader Hassan Rouhani is set to visit Hollande at the same time as the Geneva talks, the first such visit by a president from Tehran in 17 years. President Pranab Mukherjee will take salute of the parade. French nuclear giant Areva SA and the Nuclear Power Corporation of India agreed in 2010 to build the 9,900-megawatt facility, but progress has been slow amid disputes over land rights and Indian laws on accident liability.