France defends decision to sell Russia warship

PARIS (Reuters) - France defended on Monday its decision to sell an advanced warship to Russia, shrugging off concerns that the helicopter carrier could threaten Georgia and arguing that Moscow had to be treated with respect.

Russia asked to buy the 21,300-tonne, Mistral class warship to modernise hardware that was exposed as outdated during its five-day war against Georgia in 2008.

After months of debate, France finally announced on Monday it would sell the vessel to Russia for an undisclosed sum.

President Nicolas Sarkozy defended the decision during a meeting with U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who was paying a flying visit to Paris.

A French official said Sarkozy had told Gates he did not think the sale posed a military problem.

"One cannot expect Russia to behave as a partner if we don't treat it as one," the official, who declined to be named, quoted Sarkozy as telling the U.S. defense secretary.

France is a full member of NATO and its willingness to sell Russia advanced technology that could be used in a confrontation against its allies has caused concern among other NATO members.

"Our friends and allies in Eastern Europe are clearly nervous about it, especially Georgia. And with good reason," Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell said ahead of Gates's meeting with the French president.

GIVING RUSSIA MORE OPTIONS

"They fear these new warships would give Russia additional capabilities to once again threaten Georgia from the Black Sea," he added, saying Gates had questioned the sale during talks earlier in the day with French Defence Minister Herve Morin.

"It is an issue for us and Secretary Gates made that clear to Minister Morin, but it was but one discussion point over a lengthy, productive and amicable working lunch," he added.

During the war with Georgia, launched to repel Tbilisi's attempt to retake the rebel province of South Ossetia, Russia tried to control the Black Sea coast where NATO warships appeared.

The Russian military has said it could have moved more swiftly if a Mistral-type ship had been in its fleet.

The Mistral, marketed by French naval firm DCNS and estimated to cost between 300 million and 500 million euros ($410-$683 million), is an amphibious assault ship able to carry helicopters, troops, armoured vehicles and tanks.

Several of Russia's neighbours have expressed worries. Lithuania wrote to France in November asking for clarification of the situation and details of the ship's ammunition.

A senior U.S. official travelling with Gates said Washington believed the ship "clearly can be used as a warship for helicopter operations".

Despite a peace deal mediated by Sarkozy, tensions remain high in Georgia. The region is viewed by the West as a vital energy transit route from the Caspian to Europe.

(Additional reporting by Emmanuel Jarry; writing by Anna Willard and Crispian Balmer; Editing by Jon Boyle)