Bangalore: French Prez Sarkozy Arrives on 4-day Visit

Bangalore, Dec 4 (PTI) French President Nicolas Sarkozy arrived here today on the first leg of his four-day visit that will seek to strengthen bilateral ties in key areas of space and civil nuclear cooperation.

Sarkozy is accompanied by his singer-model wife Carla Bruni and a high-level delegation, including several key ministers of his cabinet and senior officials.

Sarkozy, Carla Bruni and the delegation later drove to the nearby Leela Palace Hotel for a brief stay.

The highlight of his visit to the city will be his address to scientists at the India's space research agency ISRO.

During Sarkozy's visit to ISRO, the focus is expected to be on Indo-French space collaborative projects, the Megha Tropiques and SARAL.

Megha-Tropiques (Megha meaning cloud in Sanskrit and Tropiques in French meaning Tropics), being jointly developed by ISRO and French National Space Agency (CNES), is expected to be launched by 2011 to study tropical climate.

Sarkozy Backs India's Security Council Bid  

French President Nicolas Sarkozy Saturday backed India's bid for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council and its fight against terrorism.

"India deserves a permanent seat in the Security Council," Sarkozy said addressing over 500 scientists, captains of industry and students at the Indian Space Research Organisation here soon after landing on a four-day visit to the country.

On the terror threat to India, Sarkozy said: "France stands in total solidarity with India. If India is attacked, democracy is attacked."

The French president, who is accompanied by his celebrity wife Carla Bruni, wanted greater exchange of students and youth between the two countries.

"If French youth do not come to India how can they understand the world," he said.