MOSCOW, November 7 (RIA Novosti) — Russia should raise the issue of terminating the contract on the delivery of two Mistral-class helicopter carriers because the French side is not fulfilling its obligations, a senior Federation Council member told RIA Novosti Friday.
"The Russian Federation itself should raise the issue of terminating the contract, with all the proper compensation, because of its non-fulfilment," First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council's Committee on Defense and Security Yevgeny Serebrennikov said.
"If we do this, we'll benefit from it," Serebrennikov added.
The senator also recalled that when the Mistral contract was being prepared experts evaluated the decision as "very controversial" with some saying that it would be difficult for the Russian Armed Forces to use the carriers.
"There is no threat to our security if the contract fails," Serebrennikov said.
Russia and France signed a 1.2 billion euro ($1.5 billion) deal for the delivery of two Mistral-class warships in June 2011. The first vessel, the Vladivostok, is expected in Russia by the end of 2014. The second ship, the Sevastopol, is supposed to arrive in 2015.
The deal has been at risk since the West began imposing economic sanctions on Russia because of its alleged involvement in the Ukrainian conflict. French President Francois Hollande said in September that France may suspend the delivery of the ships to Russia.
On Thursday, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls announced that the conditions for the delivery of the Mistral carriers to Russia have not yet been met.
