India's participation in European Union's (EU) multi-billion euro Galileo Satellite Navigation Project is still under negotiation, with New Delhi insisting on a say in its operational control.
New Delhi had announced its decision to support the EU project in the wake of the US war against Iraq in which the GPS was used extensively to bombard that country.
The GSP was developed mainly for military use and is under the exclusive control of the US. Although initiators and backers of the Galileo project stress it is only for civilian use, they do not deny its military application.
"They (EU) have assured us that they will not shut down operation of signals from the satellite because it is meant for civilian commercial purposes.
"Their saying is one thing but when it comes to a question of their interests getting affected, like situations of war, it will be altogether a different story," the official said.
"That's why we want to get into the operational control of Galileo."
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