Russian President Medvedev coming to France with gas, ships, art on the agenda
By APMonday, March 1, 2010
Energy, culture on tap for Medvedev trip to France
PARIS — Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is coming to France as Moscow and Paris pursue a courtship centered around potential deals on gas pipelines and a massive French warship.
Medvedev’s formal state visit is to include the unveiling of an exhibit on “Holy Russia” at the Louvre.
France is ready to sell Russia a Mistral-class warship but talks are still ongoing on the possible sale of three more. The deal, the biggest arms sale by a NATO country to Russia, has worried some in Washington and eastern Europe.
France’s GDF Suez is also keen to confirm its access to the Nord Stream pipeline bringing Russian natural gas to western Europe.
Medvedev arrives Monday and leaves Wednesday.
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