Russia will not demand penalties from France for its refusal to
deliver Mistral-class helicopter carriers but the money and expenses
incurred should be returned, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at an
annual Q&A conference on Thursday.
"I proceed from the fact that the incumbent leadership of France and the French are decent people and they will return the money to us. We do not intend to demand any forfeits or exorbitant penalties but it is necessary that all the expenses that we incurred should be returned," Putin said.
France’s refusal to deliver Mistral helicopter carriers has not affected Russia’s defense capability in any way, Putin said.
"We concluded these contracts some time ago primarily to support our partners and keep the utilization capacities of their shipyards loaded," the Russian president said.
France’s refusal to deliver Mistral-class helicopter carriers makes Russia think about the reliability of partners from the NATO bloc, "which lose a part of their sovereignty," he said.
"This reliability is questioned and we, of course, will take this into account in the course of further cooperation and military and technical interaction," the Russian president said.
In reply to the presenter’s remark that Russia’s refusal to demand penalties would allow France to ‘relax,’ Putin said: "Well, we’ll live with it.".........http://tass.ru/en/economy/789888
16/4/15
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"I proceed from the fact that the incumbent leadership of France and the French are decent people and they will return the money to us. We do not intend to demand any forfeits or exorbitant penalties but it is necessary that all the expenses that we incurred should be returned," Putin said.
France’s refusal to deliver Mistral helicopter carriers has not affected Russia’s defense capability in any way, Putin said.
"We concluded these contracts some time ago primarily to support our partners and keep the utilization capacities of their shipyards loaded," the Russian president said.
France’s refusal to deliver Mistral-class helicopter carriers makes Russia think about the reliability of partners from the NATO bloc, "which lose a part of their sovereignty," he said.
"This reliability is questioned and we, of course, will take this into account in the course of further cooperation and military and technical interaction," the Russian president said.
In reply to the presenter’s remark that Russia’s refusal to demand penalties would allow France to ‘relax,’ Putin said: "Well, we’ll live with it.".........http://tass.ru/en/economy/789888
16/4/15
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Putin Dismisses France’s non-Delivery of Warships...
ReplyDeleteRussian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that France's refusal to deliver two Mistral-class helicopter carriers to Moscow over the Ukraine crisis would not affect its defense capabilities.
"Of course not delivering the ships according to a valid contract is a bad sign, but from the point of view of supporting our defense capabilities, to tell you frankly, this has no importance."
Putin said the main reason Moscow signed the 1.2 billion euro deal for the two massive ships in 2011 was to show goodwill and give jobs to France's Saint-Nazare shipyard on the Atlantic.
"We signed these contracts at the time primarily to support our partners and to give work to their shipyard, though in principle were planning to use (the warships) in the far east," Putin said in the course of his annual phone-in session with the nation.
France was due to deliver the first warship last year but the deal was put on ice after Russia's annexation of Crimea and the resultant sanctions against Moscow by the European Union.
"For us it is not critical," he said, though adding he expects France to return the money.
"I am counting on France... to return our money. We are not planning to demand any penalties or exorbitant fines, but all expenses should be returned," he said.
"Of course this shows that the reliability of our partners... is in question, and we will take that into account in future cooperation."
AFP
almanar.com.lb
16/4/15
France sticks to its guns on shelved Mistral deliveries to Russia...
ReplyDeleteFrench Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius on Thursday said France’s decision to suspend the delivery of two Mistral warships to Russia had not changed as the 1.2 billion-euro defence contract appeared to steadily sink.
“The issue has not evolved since the last announcements by the president,” Fabius told FRANCE 24 in referring to François Hollande’s decision in November to keep two Mistral-class helicopter carriers moored at the Saint Nazaire shipyard in western France indefinitely.
“We are at a stage where the decision [to fulfil the contract with Russia] is suspended,” said Fabius at a press conference in Paris......france24.com
16/4/15