It would also be the first time that Moscow would buy a ship of war to a member of NATO

Close to twenty of framework agreements on the automotive and energy that Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, must now sign at the château de Rambouillet in the 14th intergovernmental seminar Franco-Russian. The head of the Russian Government, arrived yesterday in Paris, where he has dinner with his French counterpart, François Fillon (but it will not be able to meet with Nicolas Sarkozy, which returned as the Brazil tomorrow), a priority for a financial effort increased by Renault for the rescue of AvtoVAZ (see page 23). The number a Russian automobile including represents the bulk of the jobs in the city of Togliattigrad (700,000 inhabitants). Agreements will also focus on energy issues, in the heart of trade and the Franco-Russian geostrategic game; Moscow is the third supplier of hydrocarbons from Paris. In its oil and gas strategy, which is to impose himself as provider dominant of the European Union via pipelines bypassing the countries of the former Soviet bloc with which relations have become difficult, Poland, Baltic States, Ukraine, the Kremlin would see EDF take a participation in the South Stream gas pipeline project. The latter, with a capacity of 63 billion cubic metres per year, must supply, the Bulgaria, the Greece, the Italy, the Serbia, Bosnia, Macedonia, the Hungary, Croatia, the Slovenia, the Romania, the Austria, via Turkish waters, from 2015. To reduce its dependence on towards Moscow and diversify its suppliers, the European Union launched last year a complementary project, Nabucco, which acheminerait the gas from Central Asia, bypassing the Russia. But Vladimir Putin is rendered fort render this unprofitable project in pre-empting for South Stream's maximum of gas of the brothers of the ex-USSR, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan countries. In its European game, Moscow relies on the Italy, master of South Stream, and the Germany, who signed an agreement for the construction of its Nordic, North Stream, at the time of Gerhard Schröder (which has been rewarded by a successful position on the Board of a subsidiary of Gazprom). But Vladimir Poutine on the France, judging by the large delegation accompanying, including Alexei Miller, the boss of Gazprom, and Igor Sechin, Deputy Prime Minister (who is also patron of the number a Russian oil, Rosneft, and leader of the "friendly" of the ex-KGB to the Government).

A positive signal

Contracts could be signed between the Russian public holding company Rostekhnologuii and French groups Safran and Thales. On the other hand, indicated Russian source yesterday not to expect significant advances on the possible sale, for around 450 million euros, French helicopters, "Mistral" presentation since a few days in St. Petersburg. This sale worried neighbours of the Russia in the Black Sea, including the Georgia, because "Mistral", capable to 16 helicopters and 4 landing craft, would significantly enhance capacity for intervention by a Russian fleet with only a single larger vessel, its unique aircraft carrier, "Admiral Kuznetsov". It would also be the first time that Moscow would buy a ship of war to a member of NATO. François Fillon and Vladimir Putin must also discuss a burning diplomatico-military record: Iran's nuclear program. All in now that time is not yet the sanctions made by Washington, Paris and London, the Russia sent recently a positive signal to the West; She refused to deliver a sophisticated S-300 missile system in Tehran. Which threatens to drag Moscow before international justice for non-compliance with a delivery contract.