http://tass.ru/en/world/788543

April 10, 16:45 UTC+3
Sergey Naryshkin also believes that Washington seeks to draw new dividing lines in Europe, contrary to the ideas of General de Gaulle and the ideas of forming a united Europe without dividing lines

© ITAR-TASS/Vadim Zhernov

MOSCOW, April 10. /TASS/. Moscow understands that the situation with the delay in transfer of the Mistral helicopter carriers to Russia is the result of the pressure on the part of Washington, State Duma speaker Sergey Naryshkin told French lawmakers on Friday.

"We understand that this is the result of the pressure and even an ultimatum on the part of Washington," he said.

In the opinion of the speaker, "lowering France’s reputation as a reliable supplier in connection with the Mistrals "was not exactly what the French government was originally striving for."

Naryshkin also believes that Washington seeks to draw new dividing lines in Europe, "contrary to the ideas of General de Gaulle and the ideas of forming a united Europe without dividing lines — from Lisbon to the Urals, and later to Vladivostok."

Russia ordered the Mistral-type helicopter carriers in France in the summer of 2011. Vladivostok launched in October 2013 was to be delivered to Russia last November. However, Paris suspended the handover because of the Ukrainian crisis.

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IZAKOVIC