France won't cancel warship deal with Russia: sources
Source: Reuters
(Reuters) - France will press ahead with a 1.2 billion-euro ($1.66 billion) contract to sell helicopter carriers to Russia because cancelling the deal would do more damage to Paris than to Moscow, French diplomatic sources said on Monday.
France has come under pressure from Washington and some European partners to reconsider its supply of high-tech military hardware to Moscow. It had said it would review the deal in October - but not before.
However, French diplomatic sources said on Monday the 2011 contract with Russia for two Mistral helicopter carriers, with an option for two more, would not be part of a third round of sanctions against Moscow.
"The Mistrals are not part of the third level of sanctions. They will be delivered. The contract has been paid and there would be financial penalties for not delivering it.
Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/05/12/us-france-russia-mistral-idUSBREA4B05920140512
From last week :
US voices 'concerns' at sale of French warships to Russia http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014799874#post4
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