Russian and French delegations will meet...

The chief of the General Staff said last Tuesday that Russia would decide by the end of 2009 whether to purchase a Mistral class amphibious assault ship from France.

The source said Russia was not interested in buying just one warship.

"What is of principal interest is shipbuilding technology that will enable the domestic defense industry to build similar ships. That is our unequivocal and categorical position," he said.

He stressed that it was "senseless and wrong" to speak of buying weapon systems for the Navy without obtaining appropriate advanced technology for their subsequent production in Russia.

"This fully applies to the purchase of helicopter carriers abroad," he said.

The source also said that talks on the purchase of warships of the same class were ongoing not only with France but also with the Netherlands and Spain.

The Defense Ministry said last Wednesday that a final decision should be based on "a thorough assessment of the

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