Russia to buy French warships

Moscow - Russia is to buy four French Mistral helicopter carriers - the first time it has bought war ships from a NATO member, Russian officials announced Wednesday.

After long consultation, the government had given the deal the green light, Mikail Dmitriyev, head of Russia's military-technical cooperation authority, told state news agency Ria Novosti.

The contract was likely to be signed before the end of 2010.

But numerous NATO members have criticized the deal. The Baltic nations fear that Russia is extending its military power in the Baltic Sea area, and Washington is concerned about a technology transfer which could harm the interests of NATO members.

France argues that the sale of the 200-meter-long ships does not include weapons.

The exact conditions of the sale remain unclear. Russia is interested in buying four Mistral class ships, but wants only one of them to be built in France and the rest in Russia. Paris has suggested two be built in France and two in Russia.

A meeting between French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev a few weeks ago did not come to any definite agreement.

The Mistral, worth between 400 and 500 million euros, is equipped to carry 16 helicopters and around 1,000 soldiers.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/319893,russia-to-buy-french-warships.html.