Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin heads to France on Thursday for a two-day visit aimed at improving bilateral cooperation in the auto and energy industries. But his trip has set off alarm bells in some parts of Europe amid reports that Moscow also has plans to purchase a French-made warship that would significantly boost Russia's military capabilities...French daily Le Figaro quotes Alex Rondell, president of the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies, as saying that the Mistral purchase is merely Moscow's latest attempt to regain its status as a superpower and reassert control over its former Soviet satellites. He, for one, has no doubts as to Russia's plans for the warship...Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet told journalists on Tuesday that his country wanted to know if the potential sale would include "top military technology". Lithuanian foreign ministry spokesman Rolandas Kacinskas on Wednesday told AFP that Vilnius was also seeking clarification from France, on "exactly what kind of equipment it plans to sell and what it can be used for".
French daily Le Figaro quotes Alex Rondell, president of the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies, as saying that the Mistral purchase is merely Moscow's latest attempt to regain its status as a superpower and reassert control over its former Soviet satellites. He, for one, has no doubts as to Russia's plans for the warship...
Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet told journalists on Tuesday that his country wanted to know if the potential sale would include "top military technology". Lithuanian foreign ministry spokesman Rolandas Kacinskas on Wednesday told AFP that Vilnius was also seeking clarification from France, on "exactly what kind of equipment it plans to sell and what it can be used for".
the Mistral purchase is merely Moscow's latest attempt to regain its status as a superpower and reassert control over its former Soviet satellites.
Why is the purchase of one ship important? In the end, might makes right. Nothing has changed since the caveman.
Doesn't matter that Putin mostly discussed support of French carmaker Renault to embattled and heavily indebted Russian carmaker AvtoVAZ.
I meam, come on, who cares about French cars or even Russian cars? Not enough rissrack.
Super-duper high-tech warships that can single handedly restore superpower status to the Russkies with a nefarious plot from the cheese eating surrender monkeys; now, we have liftoff...
Russia, Renault Seal Deal on AvtoVAZ Cash, Technology (Update2) - Bloomberg.com
Nov. 27 (Bloomberg) -- Russia pledged to inject 50 billion rubles ($1.7 billion) into OAO AvtoVAZ in return for technology from 25 percent shareholder Renault SA. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin promised the cash during a visit to Paris and Renault agreed to contribute engineering know-how worth at least 240 million euros ($358 million). "Renault remains our strategic partner," Putin said after the accord was signed outside Paris.
Nov. 27 (Bloomberg) -- Russia pledged to inject 50 billion rubles ($1.7 billion) into OAO AvtoVAZ in return for technology from 25 percent shareholder Renault SA.
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin promised the cash during a visit to Paris and Renault agreed to contribute engineering know-how worth at least 240 million euros ($358 million).
"Renault remains our strategic partner," Putin said after the accord was signed outside Paris.
Lithuania is playing the Rysskräck-card to get support and sympathy, even if this issue is not relevant to Lithuanias security. Though it is for Sweden's... Peak oil is not an energy crisis. It is a liquid fuel crisis.
