On the eve of first anniversary of Mumbai terror attacks, France on Wednesday said it was "absolutely necessary" for Islamabad "to do whatever possible" to bring the culprits to justice.
"Whatever so-called justifications or methods, terrorism is simply unacceptable. Therefore, whenever there is a terrorist attack, there has to be a deliberate, complete and significant effort to bring the culprits to justice," said French Ambassador to India Jerome Bonnafont in Chennai.
"And it is absolutely necessary for Pakistan, where the terrorists started their operations, to do whatever possible to make the case and to have the people brought to justice," he said.
On the internal situation in Pakistan which is facing numerous terror strikes, he said Pakistani authorities should make all efforts to ensure stability and put the country "on track for development".
"We want the democratically-elected authorities of Pakistan to be in a position to fully put it on track for development, stability for internal peace and this naturally means that we are ready to give support and we are giving support in their endeavour to consolidate their democratic bases," he said.
On climate change, Bonnafont called for developed nations to do the bulk of the effort on reduction of emissions.
"We want a fair and efficient agreement. It means that industrialised countries have to do the bulk of the effort of reduction of their emissions," he said.
"We have to find some innovative mechanism to make that possible. When it comes to emerging countries, among which India is, there is the question of balancing economic growth and fight against CO2 emissions," Bonnafont said.
There were technical possibilities to "make the fight against climate change compatible with a very high rate of growth," he said.
Recalling the two countries' cooperation in the field of security and others including nuclear energy, he said the bilateral relations were based on values and common interests.
The two countries had realised the need to utilise the opportunities offered by globalisation to "accelerate our developments," he said.
The relationship was important at a time of "threat to our security, global economic crisis, and fight against climate change."
Both Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and French President Nicholas Sarkozy believe that "there is something to be done by France and India together to accelerate India's development and recognition of its place as a global actor and to show that India and Europe are willing to build an indestructible link", he said.
In regard to trade, French companies preferred setting business in the four southern states, due to the "friendly environment" for their activities, he said.
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