French sale of warship to Russia raises fears in Georgia

FRANCE has agreed to sell Russia a warship and is considering a request for three more, French defence officials said yesterday – the first major arms deal between Russia and a Nato member.

French president Nicolas Sarkozy approved the sale of one Mistral assault ship after months of discussions.

Russian naval officials then submitted a request for three more which is being considered.

The Mistral can anchor in coastal waters and deploy troops on land, a capacity the Russian navy lacks at present. Russia's navy chief said last year that a ship such as the Mistral would have allowed the Russian navy to mount a much more efficient action in the Black Sea during the Georgia-Russia war in 2008.

The deal has prompted concern from Georgia and from the United States.

During a recent visit to Paris, US defence secretary Robert Gates told his French counterpart, Herv Morin, that he was concerned about the Mistral sale, a US official said.

Temur Yakobashvili, the Georgian cabinet minister for reintegration, who is in charge of issues related to separatist regions, said: "I believe that it's not a good idea to sell such ship to a country that has occupied another nation's territory."