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France seeks new buyers for Mistral warships: defense minister

Xinhua, August 6, 2015 Adjust font size:

France is looking for other buyers for two Mistral helicopter carriers which Paris decided to not deliver to Russia over Moscow's alleged role in the Ukrainian conflict, the country's Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Thursday.

"I am convinced there will be other buyers. Already a number of countries have expressed an interest for these two ships," Le Drian said without giving details on potential buyers.

"It is desirable to do so as soon as possible," he added.

Speaking to RTL radio, the French minister noted talks between French President Francois Hollande and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on a compensation accord had been held in "an amiable way."

"Russia will be reimbursed euro for euro for the financial commitments taken for these ships," Le Drian said. In return Paris would have the full ownership of the two vessels.

The total cost to France of suspending the mistral contract would be less than 1.2 billion euros (1.3 billion U. S. dollars), according to the minister as the helicopters carriers were not finished yet.

Signed in 2011, the deal to hand two Mistral helicopter carrier warships to Russia, was suspended in September 2014. Hollande went back on his pledge to deliver the first vessel in November last year over escalating fighting in eastern Ukraine. Endit