France won't sell armed Mistrals to Russia

26.03.2010 Source: RIA Novosti, photo: Mistral (ambafrance-au.org)

French defense ministry said Thursday that in case of positive decision to sell Mistral-type helicopter carriers to Russia they would be delivered without armament, informs France Presse. That's the President's position and it has not been changed, reported the ministry.

Journalists asked the spokesman for French defense ministry about possibility to deliver armed and equipped Mistrals to Russia.

"The President clearly drew up France's positions as for what questions were open for talks. He said that in the public and in the presence of his Russian counterpart", said the official.

On March 1 Nicolas Sarkozy said at mutual press conference with Russian president Dmitry Medvedev that the carrier would be "built for Russia without military equipment".

Russia and France negotiate on procurement of one Mistral helicopter carrier with further use of French know-how in building three such ships in Russia.

Statement of French defense authority discords with the speech of Nikolai Makarov, Chief of General Staff of Russian Armed Forces. Giving interview to Rossiyskaya Gazeta – Nedelya and commenting an opinion that the France plans to sell Mistral only in the shape of a "metal box" without electronics and arms, Gen. Makarov stated that Russian leaders and defense ministry "have absolutely firm position".

"If the definitive decision on Mistral is made, we will purchase this ship only in fully-equipped version, i.e. with the whole range of command and control facilities, navigation systems, and armament. The only exception is helicopters. They'd be Russian. The rest things should meet their own [French] standards", stated Makarov.