France endorses India’s Security Council

French President Francois Hollande reiterated his country’s support for India’s bid to become a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. Speaking at a joint press conference with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi, Hollande said he wishes India will defend France’s principles of peace, democracy and freedom when it becomes a permanent member of the Security Council. Hollande’s visit aims mainly to finalize a deal with India that will see France sell 126 Rafale fighter jets in a contract worth $12 billion, the world’s biggest defense deal currently under negotiation. For his part, Singh said the discussions on the deal “are progressing well,” with Hollande echoing the statement saying that “some progress has been achieved in the discussions and I do hope we can reach a conclusion.”