French and Russian naval leaders to talk on anti-piracy

03.03.2010 Source: RIA Novosti, photo: Pierre Francois Forissier (meretmarine.com)

Admiral Vladimir Vysotsky, Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief and Admiral Pierre-Francois Forissier, French Navy Chief of Staff will discuss anti-piracy issues at the meeting in Moscow, informed RIA Novosti referring to Russian Navy's official.

Visit of French military delegation to Moscow started on Tuesday.

"Program of visit includes meeting with Admiral Vladimir Vysotsky, Navy Commander-in-Chief at Navy Main HQ; on the meeting agenda are interaction in countering piracy and terror, sea rescue", said the interviewee.

French delegation will visit Northern Fleet where it is invited on board heavy nuclear-powered missile cruiser Petr Veliky and nuclear-powered submarine Pantera.

In St. Petersburg the delegation will visit Kuznetsov Naval Academy, Central Naval Museum, National Museum Hermitage, manor museum Menshikov Palace, Fort Petropavlovsk.

"Visit of French delegation to Russian Federation will become another practical step towards strengthening of mutual understanding and partnership between navies of the two countries", underlined Russian Navy's spokesman.

Russian president Dmitry Medvedev is presently visiting France. Last Monday Russian leader opened active phase of negotiations on Russia's purchase of four Mistral-class helicopter carriers; one of them is planned to be bought from France and the rest three are expected to be built at Russian shipyards under license.

Amphibious helicopter carrier Mistral has total displacement of 21,000 tons; length is 200 meters; beam is 32 meters; speed is 19 knots; operational range is 20,000 nm. The carrier is capable to carry six helicopters on the deck, four landing cutters or two air-cushion vessels, and somewhat 450 marines inside.