France is committed to selling a Mistral-class helicopter carrier to Russia because Russia is its European security partner, French President Nicolas Sarkozy was quoted as saying on Tuesday.
Sarkozy met with Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili who has repeatedly expressed concern over the Mistral sale to Russia.
"The [French] president reiterated that Russia is called upon to build, together with Europe, a common economic, humanitarian and security space," a spokesman for the French president said.
He said Sarkozy brought up the Mistral issue himself during the meeting.
"If we expect Russia to behave like a partner in all fields, including defense and security, we should treat it like a partner," Sarkozy was quoted as saying.
"The president explained that such is France's political choice," his spokesman said.
Russia has negotiated the purchase of at least one Mistral-class amphibious assault ship, worth 400-500 million Euros (around $540-$675 million) and plans to build three more vessels of the same class in partnership with the French naval shipbuilder DCNS.
A Mistral-class ship is capable of transporting and deploying 16 helicopters, four landing barges, up to 70 armored vehicles including 13 battle tanks, and 450 personnel.
Many Russian military and industry experts have questioned the financial and military sense of the purchase, and some believe that Russia simply wants to gain access to advanced naval technology that could be used in the future in potential conflicts with NATO and its allies.
PARIS, June 8 (RIA Novosti)
