Republic-Day Plan to Host Hollande

[mkb95]

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi plans to invite French President Francois Hollande as chief guest for the coming Republic Day, a visit that might see a breakthrough in negotiations that have held up India's direct purchase of 36 Rafale jets.
Hollande is expected to accept the invite, months after Modi visited France in April and announced that his government would circumvent an earlier tender to directly buy Rafale planes "off the shelf", a deal that could cost India more than $5 billion.
Negotiators from both countries have been locked in talks over reducing the effective cost of the deal through an offset agreement, under which the seller agrees to purchase another product from the buyer to sweeten the pact.
Only in recent weeks, officials said, negotiators had edged towards an understanding that France could invest 50 per cent of the cost of the Rafale jets India purchases into "Make in India" defence initiatives, after direct political intervention on both sides.
Such an arrangement would also help Modi counter criticism that he had jettisoned his own domestic manufacturing drive in agreeing to the direct purchase of the French jets in April.
The invitation to Hollande, experts said, would also underscore the uniqueness of India's strategic relationship with France, the only major western nation that did not condemn the 1998 nuclear tests and, in fact, supplied key weapons to New Delhi during the 1999 Kargil war.
"It's been a tried and tested strategic relationship since 1998," Ummu Salma Bava, professor of European studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University, told The Telegraph. "And this (the invitation) is in keeping with the gains that have been made, including in the recent past."
The plan to invite Hollande follows a pattern Modi appears to have established.
With the India-US nuclear deal stuck over New Delhi's nuclear liability law, Modi had agreed with US President Barack Obama to fast-track negotiations, and then invited him as chief guest to the January 26 ceremony this year.
It was after their meeting here on January 27 that Modi and Obama announced a "breakthrough" in the stalemate in the form of an insurance pool that Indian companies would create to allow US suppliers to dip into, in the event of an accident.
A repeat - with the deal on Rafale jets - can't be ruled out, the officials hinted.If Hollande accepts the invite, he will become the first French President to visit India twice in one term. The French leader, who came to power in 2012, had visited New Delhi in February 2013.
The decision to invite Hollande also reflects the continuation of a legacy.
Hollande, if he comes, would be the fourth French leader to be chief guest at the R-Day ceremony since 1976. Jacques Chirac has been chief guest twice - in 1976, as Prime Minister, and in 1998, as President.
President Valery Giscard d'Estaing, in 1980, and President Nicolas Sarkozy, in 2008, were also chief guests.
Every French President since d'Estaing has also visited India, some like Francois Mitterrand (in 1981 and 1989) and Chirac (in 1998 and 2006) twice. But Hollande will be the first to visit India twice in a single term.
Modi and Hollande, who met in New York last month on the margins of the UN General Assembly, are expected to meet again in December - in Paris - on the sidelines of the UN's climate change conference that the Indian Prime Minister wants to attend. Modi is likely to hand over the formal invite to Hollande at the start of the climate summit.
Modi's December visit to Paris would also mark the first occasion that an Indian Prime Minister has travelled to France twice in a single year.
Hollande wasn't the only candidate India considered for chief guest at the 2016 Republic Day.
Other leaders whose names were discussed as possible chief guests within the corridors of the ministry of external affairs were British Prime Minister David Cameron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

 

[GreenApple]

...that way , we should have F-35 by now

 

[jamahir]

remember, hollande is a war criminal for his role in the nato regime-change program against syria and for the continued nato/qaeda/ikhwaan/isil occupation of libya.

nato, directly and indirectly, has murdered, in the most heinous ways, 150,000+ libyans and 220,000+ syrians.

the only destination of hollande and his friends - obomba, cameron, sarkozy, merkel, hamad al-thani and erdogan, would be the "international criminal court".

bush jr and blair are already declared war criminals, already tried in absentia.

anyone who helps nato, by word or deed, is not fit for human civilization.

 

[Ind4Ever]

remember, hollande is a war criminal for his role in the nato regime-change program against syria and for the continued nato/qaeda/ikhwaan/isil occupation of libya.

nato, directly and indirectly, has murdered, in the most heinous ways, 150,000+ libyans and 220,000+ syrians.

the only destination of hollande and his friends, obomba, cameron, sarkozy, merkel, hamad al-thani and erdogan, would be the "international criminal court".

bush jr and blair are already declared war criminals, already tried in absentia.

anyone who helps nato, by word or deed, is not fit for human civilization.

What ever makes you happy!!!

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi plans to invite French President Francois Hollande as chief guest for the coming Republic Day, a visit that might see a breakthrough in negotiations that have held up India's direct purchase of 36 Rafale jets.
Hollande is expected to accept the invite, months after Modi visited France in April and announced that his government would circumvent an earlier tender to directly buy Rafale planes "off the shelf", a deal that could cost India more than $5 billion.
Negotiators from both countries have been locked in talks over reducing the effective cost of the deal through an offset agreement, under which the seller agrees to purchase another product from the buyer to sweeten the pact.
Only in recent weeks, officials said, negotiators had edged towards an understanding that France could invest 50 per cent of the cost of the Rafale jets India purchases into "Make in India" defence initiatives, after direct political intervention on both sides.
Such an arrangement would also help Modi counter criticism that he had jettisoned his own domestic manufacturing drive in agreeing to the direct purchase of the French jets in April.
The invitation to Hollande, experts said, would also underscore the uniqueness of India's strategic relationship with France, the only major western nation that did not condemn the 1998 nuclear tests and, in fact, supplied key weapons to New Delhi during the 1999 Kargil war.
"It's been a tried and tested strategic relationship since 1998," Ummu Salma Bava, professor of European studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University, told The Telegraph. "And this (the invitation) is in keeping with the gains that have been made, including in the recent past."
The plan to invite Hollande follows a pattern Modi appears to have established.
With the India-US nuclear deal stuck over New Delhi's nuclear liability law, Modi had agreed with US President Barack Obama to fast-track negotiations, and then invited him as chief guest to the January 26 ceremony this year.
It was after their meeting here on January 27 that Modi and Obama announced a "breakthrough" in the stalemate in the form of an insurance pool that Indian companies would create to allow US suppliers to dip into, in the event of an accident.
A repeat - with the deal on Rafale jets - can't be ruled out, the officials hinted.If Hollande accepts the invite, he will become the first French President to visit India twice in one term. The French leader, who came to power in 2012, had visited New Delhi in February 2013.
The decision to invite Hollande also reflects the continuation of a legacy.
Hollande, if he comes, would be the fourth French leader to be chief guest at the R-Day ceremony since 1976. Jacques Chirac has been chief guest twice - in 1976, as Prime Minister, and in 1998, as President.
President Valery Giscard d'Estaing, in 1980, and President Nicolas Sarkozy, in 2008, were also chief guests.
Every French President since d'Estaing has also visited India, some like Francois Mitterrand (in 1981 and 1989) and Chirac (in 1998 and 2006) twice. But Hollande will be the first to visit India twice in a single term.
Modi and Hollande, who met in New York last month on the margins of the UN General Assembly, are expected to meet again in December - in Paris - on the sidelines of the UN's climate change conference that the Indian Prime Minister wants to attend. Modi is likely to hand over the formal invite to Hollande at the start of the climate summit.
Modi's December visit to Paris would also mark the first occasion that an Indian Prime Minister has travelled to France twice in a single year.
Hollande wasn't the only candidate India considered for chief guest at the 2016 Republic Day.
Other leaders whose names were discussed as possible chief guests within the corridors of the ministry of external affairs were British Prime Minister David Cameron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Good gesture. I expect more than what we can see

 

[dadeechi]

RAFALE deal is the biggest scandal in the history of India and cruel joke on the people of India.

A supposedly $10 Billion deal for 126 planes with almost full ToT has now been reduced to a $9 Billion deal for 36 planes with zero ToT.

If this is the price for this proposed visit or Modi's corrupt free government, I would say India needs neither of them.

Any corrupt government could have done better.

What is the use of corrupt free governments if they are not efficient.

 

[jamahir]

What ever makes you happy!!!

i will be even happier when each in that list i gave is lined up in a world people's court.

 

[Arya Desa]

remember, hollande is a war criminal for his role in the nato regime-change program against syria and for the continued nato/qaeda/ikhwaan/isil occupation of libya.

nato, directly and indirectly, has murdered, in the most heinous ways, 150,000+ libyans and 220,000+ syrians.

the only destination of hollande and his friends - obomba, cameron, sarkozy, merkel, hamad al-thani and erdogan, would be the "international criminal court".

bush jr and blair are already declared war criminals, already tried in absentia.

anyone who helps nato, by word or deed, is not fit for human civilization.

the cat gaduffer is a war criminal for his crime in blowing up Pan Am 103.

 

[jamahir]

the cat gaduffer is a war criminal for his crime in blowing up Pan Am 103.

1. gaddafi, who you call "duffer", is one of the wisest leaders in history despite some mistakes he made... besides, can any of the western bloc drone leaders you so adore, deliver even a five minute speech that appeals to the intellectual??

2. do you have any proof linking gaddafi to the lockerbie affair?? what do you say of british government paying some of the lockerbie families to lie in court??

and from ( Lockerbie: Attack or a trick? )...

Swire believes Megrahi to be innocent and Robbie has concluded there is sufficient evidence to warrant a fresh investigation, focusing not on a terrorist bombing but on an accident on board the ill-fated airliner. This thesis, if correct, has far reaching implications for the actions of the US, UK and Scottish Governments, and officials within the Crown Office. It requires the open-minded reader to step through the looking glass into the potentially murky world of government intelligence, covert operations and geo-politics, and consider the events of 21 December 1988 from an entirely fresh, disturbing perspective.
Robbie\'s letter begins by looking at a portion of the trial transcript.

3. how did gaddafi become "war criminal" when it was 40+ nato militaries plus their terrorist slaves who invaded libyan jamahiriya in 2011 and proceeded to massacre 150,000+ libyans and non-libyans??

 

[Yaduveer]

Republic Day: UK PM David Cameron & French President Francois Hollande in probable chief guest list
Dipanjan Roy Chaudhury, ET BureauAug 1, 2015, 03.47AM IST

• 

(French Presidents though…)
NEW DELHI: NEW DELHI: UK Prime Minister David Cameron, who recently won a second term in office, FrenchPresident Francois Hollande, and Spanish PM Mariano Rajoy Brey are among the leaders whose names are being considered as chief guest for the 2016 Republic Day celebrations.

While Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the UK this November, Cameron's name is doing rounds in the corridors of power for the next Republic Day celebrations, given the importance of Indo-British ties.

It may be recalled that Cameron was among the handful of leaders from the West who supported Modi during his days as Gujarat chief minister. Later, Cameron was keen to visit India en route to Australia for the G20summit last year but the tight schedule did not permit, and Modi's proposed trip to London was postponed owing to parliamentary elections in the UK. It may be noted here that the Asian community had played an important role in Cameron's electoral victory.

However, there's a rider. Officials pointed out that as Modi would himself visit London in November, the political leadership here may decide to invite Cameron later for the event instead of 2016. A British PM has not attended India's Republic Day celebrations in the past two decades. John Major was the last British PM who attended the R-Day celebrations in 1993.

But Cameron is not the only European leader whose name is being talked about for the invite. France is India's strongest strategic partner in Europe -- across defence, space and nuclear energy sectors. Hollande's name figures in the list of prospective invitees, officials informed. French Presidents though have attended the January 26 celebrations in recent decades and Nicholas Sarkozy had the honor in 2008. Modi visited France this April where an advanced pact for a plant at Jaitapur was concluded. Besides, a decision to buy 36 advanced Rafale fighter jets was also taken.

The other prospective invitee for the next January 26 -- Spanish PM Rajoy -- is a surprise. While bilateral relations with Madrid have been steady, but not exceptional. However, Spain has potential in the fields of defence and infrastructure from which India can benefit, officials pointed out. But this is not the first time that a Spanish leader will be a chief guest at the event. Spanish King Juan Carlos I attended the occasion way back in 1982.

It has been learnt that Brazilian President Dilma Rouseff's name was earlier also in contention for the event. However, the suggestion was dropped as the President will be visiting India in the middle of next year for the BRICS Summit. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was chief guest on January 26 in 2004.

It is not an easy task to select a chief guest for India's Republic Day celebrations, given Delhi's growing economic and strategic interests globally. The MEA recently drew up a list of possible Republic Day chief guests not only for 2016, but for the next five years, officials indicated to ET. "The list has been forwarded to the political echelons and it is up to them to make the final choice. They may decide to invite someone from beyond the list," an official said.

The list has been drafted on certain factors as countries have been chosen depending on India's economic, defence and strategic requirements besides multilateral and regional necessities, according to sources. In 2017, the list of countries under consideration are from South Asia followed by the Gulf in 2018. In 2019, the idea is to invite a leader of Person of Indian Origin followed by a leader from Africa in 2020.

However, careful thought has been given to avoid countries going to elections and where PM might visit in the next few years. Countries such as Japan and Russia with which India holds annual summits have also been avoided. While Japanese PM Shinzo Abe was the chief guest in 2014, Vladimir Putin was the main guest in 2007.

 

[Abingdonboy]

Republic Day: UK PM David Cameron & French President Francois Hollande in probable chief guest list
Dipanjan Roy Chaudhury, ET BureauAug 1, 2015, 03.47AM IST

• 

(French Presidents though…)
NEW DELHI: NEW DELHI: UK Prime Minister David Cameron, who recently won a second term in office, FrenchPresident Francois Hollande, and Spanish PM Mariano Rajoy Brey are among the leaders whose names are being considered as chief guest for the 2016 Republic Day celebrations.

While Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the UK this November, Cameron's name is doing rounds in the corridors of power for the next Republic Day celebrations, given the importance of Indo-British ties.

It may be recalled that Cameron was among the handful of leaders from the West who supported Modi during his days as Gujarat chief minister. Later, Cameron was keen to visit India en route to Australia for the G20summit last year but the tight schedule did not permit, and Modi's proposed trip to London was postponed owing to parliamentary elections in the UK. It may be noted here that the Asian community had played an important role in Cameron's electoral victory.

However, there's a rider. Officials pointed out that as Modi would himself visit London in November, the political leadership here may decide to invite Cameron later for the event instead of 2016. A British PM has not attended India's Republic Day celebrations in the past two decades. John Major was the last British PM who attended the R-Day celebrations in 1993.

But Cameron is not the only European leader whose name is being talked about for the invite. France is India's strongest strategic partner in Europe -- across defence, space and nuclear energy sectors. Hollande's name figures in the list of prospective invitees, officials informed. French Presidents though have attended the January 26 celebrations in recent decades and Nicholas Sarkozy had the honor in 2008. Modi visited France this April where an advanced pact for a plant at Jaitapur was concluded. Besides, a decision to buy 36 advanced Rafale fighter jets was also taken.

The other prospective invitee for the next January 26 -- Spanish PM Rajoy -- is a surprise. While bilateral relations with Madrid have been steady, but not exceptional. However, Spain has potential in the fields of defence and infrastructure from which India can benefit, officials pointed out. But this is not the first time that a Spanish leader will be a chief guest at the event. Spanish King Juan Carlos I attended the occasion way back in 1982.

It has been learnt that Brazilian President Dilma Rouseff's name was earlier also in contention for the event. However, the suggestion was dropped as the President will be visiting India in the middle of next year for the BRICS Summit. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was chief guest on January 26 in 2004.

It is not an easy task to select a chief guest for India's Republic Day celebrations, given Delhi's growing economic and strategic interests globally. The MEA recently drew up a list of possible Republic Day chief guests not only for 2016, but for the next five years, officials indicated to ET. "The list has been forwarded to the political echelons and it is up to them to make the final choice. They may decide to invite someone from beyond the list," an official said.

The list has been drafted on certain factors as countries have been chosen depending on India's economic, defence and strategic requirements besides multilateral and regional necessities, according to sources. In 2017, the list of countries under consideration are from South Asia followed by the Gulf in 2018. In 2019, the idea is to invite a leader of Person of Indian Origin followed by a leader from Africa in 2020.

However, careful thought has been given to avoid countries going to elections and where PM might visit in the next few years. Countries such as Japan and Russia with which India holds annual summits have also been avoided. While Japanese PM Shinzo Abe was the chief guest in 2014, Vladimir Putin was the main guest in 2007.

Obama in 2015 to Cameron in 2016 would be quite the disappointment. Hollande makes much more sense from a strategic perspective- India has far more strategic projects in the pipeline with the French than the UK (can't think of a single one for the latter) and the UK will generally simply tow the US's foreign policy line.

 

[PARIKRAMA]

IF u want to rattle the whole world invite Xi Jinping and have a good parade (with all weapons and protos under development also)
I can assure quite a lot of flutter will happen and heart burn too across many countries.. But in one shot giving such a honor to China will mean a much favorable look at relationship development and issue resolution....
Interestingly, if Chinese Prez decline citing any reason, that would make it even more interesting as then the anti China Bloc would swiftly move in and probably try to cash in the effect and build stronger military relationship (and of course sales to india)

 

[shree835]

remember, hollande is a war criminal for his role in the nato regime-change program against syria and for the continued nato/qaeda/ikhwaan/isil occupation of libya.

nato, directly and indirectly, has murdered, in the most heinous ways, 150,000+ libyans and 220,000+ syrians.

the only destination of hollande and his friends - obomba, cameron, sarkozy, merkel, hamad al-thani and erdogan, would be the "international criminal court".

bush jr and blair are already declared war criminals, already tried in absentia.

anyone who helps nato, by word or deed, is not fit for human civilization.

Killing those goons terrorist is no crime at all... We must kill them all ASAP and made them shaheed.....Coming to the point Modi plans to invite French President Francois Hollande as chief guest is a welcome step.

 

[Arya Desa]

Should have invited our best dohst, our mitra, pakistani's Sharif.

 

[NKVD]

Should have invited our best dohst, our mitra, pakistani's Sharif.

Raheel Sharif Will be A correct option Indeed

 

[Spectre]

Invite Imran Khan!! Best way to get him out of the way. Me Likey Nawaz Shareef