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Paris considers all pros and cons of selling naval ship to Russia
19.10.2009
The issue of probable delivery of French Mistral-class helicopter carrier to Russia calls controversies due to its political background, writes Le Monde.
The decision of delivery has not been made yet, says the newspaper referring to French official source. Neither French President Administration nor French MFA comment the matter, but official sources anonymously inform that all pros and cons are thoroughly elaborated. One of the questions is to comprehend what made Russia decide to buy such ship. Besides, Paris has to explain its step to some NATO partners, particularly, to Baltic countries anxious of Russia's attitude to its neighbors. France being an initiator of Caucasus peace agreement in Aug 2008 may appear "on the hook", says the source.
The matter of helicopter carrier procurement turned out to be political issue after public statements of Russian Navy officials tried to represent the transaction as an already settled matter and potential excuse of Russia's combat actions in summer 2008, underlines the author.
In return, French officials are trying to minimize significance of the contract, says the newspaper. The bargain perspectives are also substantial matter for French shipyards STX (Saint-Nazaire) and DCNS (Brest and Lorient).
Russian party plans to build four Mistral-class ships at domestic shipyards. But the author doubts whether they can do that or not as none of naval ships has been constructed there over the last 10 years. French sources deny blankly the probable transfer of construction drawings to Russia. According to Thomas Valasek, analyst of London's Centre for European Reform, "As for EU, Mistral issue may raise a question of ethical norms of arms export", writes Le Monde.
Source:
The issue of probable delivery of French Mistral-class helicopter carrier to Russia calls controversies due to its political background, writes Le Monde.
The decision of delivery has not been made yet, says the newspaper referring to French official source. Neither French President Administration nor French MFA comment the matter, but official sources anonymously inform that all pros and cons are thoroughly elaborated. One of the questions is to comprehend what made Russia decide to buy such ship. Besides, Paris has to explain its step to some NATO partners, particularly, to Baltic countries anxious of Russia's attitude to its neighbors. France being an initiator of Caucasus peace agreement in Aug 2008 may appear "on the hook", says the source.
The matter of helicopter carrier procurement turned out to be political issue after public statements of Russian Navy officials tried to represent the transaction as an already settled matter and potential excuse of Russia's combat actions in summer 2008, underlines the author.
In return, French officials are trying to minimize significance of the contract, says the newspaper. The bargain perspectives are also substantial matter for French shipyards STX (Saint-Nazaire) and DCNS (Brest and Lorient).
Russian party plans to build four Mistral-class ships at domestic shipyards. But the author doubts whether they can do that or not as none of naval ships has been constructed there over the last 10 years. French sources deny blankly the probable transfer of construction drawings to Russia. According to Thomas Valasek, analyst of London's Centre for European Reform, "As for EU, Mistral issue may raise a question of ethical norms of arms export", writes Le Monde.
Source:
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