Indian PM Asks British Counterpart For Assistance In AgustaWestland Investigation

Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has asked his British counterpart David Cameron, who is on an official visit to New Delhi, for his aid in investigating the AgustaWestland bribery allegations.

“I conveyed to the Prime Minister our very serious concerns regarding allegations about unethical means used in securing the 2010 contract for Agusta Westland helicopters. I told him that we have sought an explanation from the company by February 22 to examine if the contractual provisions on unethical practices and the Integrity Pact have been violated,” Singh said. “I have sought full assistance from the U.K. in this case. Prime Minister David Cameron has assured me of the cooperation of his Government in the investigations”.

“We discussed the prospects of enhanced cooperation in the development of the defence industrial base of India through greater emphasis on technology transfer, co-development and co-production,” he added.

Meanwhile, Finmeccanica issued an official statement saying that it is ‘is confident that AgustaWestland will demonstrate that it has fully complied with Indian law and the above mentioned ethics principles’.

Finmeccanica is ready to cooperate with the Indian authorities in order to clarify the matter and will collaborate in accordance with international procedures applicable to an investigation of this kind, the statement added.