By John Keating
PARIS, April 16 (KUNA) -- France intends to deploy fighter aircraft and AWAC air surveillance planes to NATO duty in eastern Europe because of the crisis in Ukraine and to reassure Alliance members in the east, French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Wednesday.
"The Ukrainian crisis is the most serious since the end of the Cold War and the responsibility for this escalation is known to all--it belongs to Russia," Le Drian told the French parliament.
The Defence Minister said that "the annexation of Crimea by Russia" last month and "the destabilisation of Eastern Ukraine are events of the utmost gravity" and the "attacks on Ukraine's sovereignty are not acceptable." Faced with this situation, France is taking a position of "firmness and responsibility" by supporting European Union sanctions and their extension against Russia and its supporters.
Also, France on Wednesday, in coordination with NATO, has decided to deploy aircraft in a "reinforced reassurance operation" being put in place by the Alliance, he said.
The French air force "will make available it AWACs for air surveillance but will also deploy fighter aircraft in Poland at the end of this month," Le Drian told the National Assembly.
While he did not give details on number of aircraft, defence sources said previously in March that France would deploy at least four fighter planes in Poland and there were discussions about deploying combat aircraft also in the Baltic States, although Le Drian did not mention the Baltic countries.
The planes are to be used for patrol duty and were ostensibly destined to show the eastern NATO allies that they could count on support from bigger Alliance members.
Le Drian said that "Russia must renounce the escalation" with Ukraine, where elections must be allowed to take place on May 25.
He said France hoped that the four-way discussions between Russia, the United States, the European Union and Ukraine in Geneva on Thursday would bring back stability to the region.
"If Russia does not take this path, we will have no other choice than new sanctions which will affect its economy," the minister remarked, adding that this was not the preferred choice of France which is seeking peace and security in Europe.
France currently is building two major naval vessels for Russia, worth USD 1.6 billion and Paris has so far not decided to put this contract on hold. In addition, between 300 and 400 Russian sailors are due in France next month for training exercises with the giant "Mistral" landing vessels, one of which is already undergoing sea trials.
The sailors have been issued visas and will come here as planned as part of a bilateral agreement, the French Foreign Ministry said this week.
Le Drian said earlier that France will decide on the fate of the contract in October when the situation is clearer. (end) jk.rk