NATO Chief Sees No Threat From Ship Deal

March 9, 2010

PRAGUE, Czech Republic — Russia will not use warships that it plans to buy from France against any NATO ally, the military alliance's secretary-general, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, said after several Eastern European states expressed concern.

"I take it for granted that Russia will not use or misuse this military equipment against any ally, as Russia is a partner of NATO," Rassmussen said in Prague after meeting Czech interim Prime Minister Jan Fischer.

"Secondly, I can assure you that NATO has all necessary plans in place to protect and defend any ally," he said.

NATO members Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia have voiced concern over France's plans to sell several Mistral-class helicopter carriers, which President Dmitry Medvedev discussed during a visit to Paris last week.

(Reuters)

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