Zone Militaire » Blog Archive M. Fabius évoque l'annulation de la livraison des 2 BPC "Mistral" à la Russie » Zone Militaire
In June 2011, after several months of procrastination and controversy , especially overseas , France and Russia officially signed a contract for the delivery of two buildings projection and command (BPC) Mistral type for the Russian Navy 1.2 billion euros.
These PCBs , 3 of which are currently in service in the Navy, have been designed for force projection , support for deployed troops and assistance to civilian populations. For these purposes, they diposent including means of command and amphibious assault and a hospital. They can also implement helicopters. Built to civilian standards , they are armed only for their self-defense.
Russia has ordered two exemplairesde this type of ship , plus two others options. Compared to French PCBs, they have been modified to meet the specific needs of the Russian Navy , which plans to embark on hélicopètres Kamov . The first, called Vladivostok , started its trials earlier this month off the coast of Saint- Nazaire and must be delivered this year. Ironically , the second , the construction of which is underway, will be called " Sevastopol " , the name of the naval base in Crimea , headquarters of the Black Sea Fleet .
Precisely, the Ukrainian crisis could result in the cancellation of the delivery of these two PCBs Russia. The French Foreign Minister , Laurent Fabius, who , however, has accustomed us to make some forward declarations (see CAR, for example) , said on March 17 that France " will consider " not annul the sale of two ships if Moscow continues its conducted in Crimea.
" If Putin continues what he's doing , we can consider canceling these sales, but we ask others, I think in particular the British, to the equivalent assets with Russian oligarchs in London. Sanctions must touch all the world, " he explained , noting that the cancellation of the Mistral would also be " negative for the French . " And to clarify : "It is part of the third level of sanctions . For now we are on the second level. "
Following the referendum , which was organized on March 16 in the Crimea, placed the Ukrainian autonomous republic in the lap of Russia , the United States and the European Union adopted sanctions Conre senior Russian or Ukrainian pro- Russian officials . Unheard of , at least the European side, since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
However, this does not seem to move an eyebrow at the Russian President Putin Vladmimir . It has signed the decree recognizing the independence of the Crimea, the first stage of its integration within the Russian Federation .
Also, under these conditions , France she will go to penalties "third level " and so cancel the delivery of two PCBs to the Russian navy? Even if the contract has been criticized in Russia , it remains that Moscow has not failed to respond to Mr. Fabius .
"France starts to betray the trust we place in it as a reliable supplier ," he told the Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin , via his Twitter account. "Our colleague did he not know how many jobs were created in France through our partnership? " Has he added.
However, the waves Europe1 this March 17 , Laurent Fabius has corrected this . I must say that outright cancellation of the order of the two vessels may be u , hit hard at STX shipyard that built ...
" What is envisaged is the suspension of these contracts," he has said so . And not to cancel ... " On the one hand we understand that we can not consider consistently deliver arms given this behavior , on the other there is the reality of the employment and the economy, " he added.
