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Russia-France Mistral dispute

Export of weaponry internal issue of each NATO member-state - Stoltenberg

Defence exports are the domestic prerogative of each country, he said answering a question about a contract, under which France is building Mistral family helicopter carriers for Russia

© AP Photo/David Vincent

TALLINN, November 19. /TASS/. Decisions on sales of defence technologies to foreign customers lie within the sphere of competence of each NATO member-state, Secretary General of the pact, Jens Stoltenberg said on Thursday in an interview with an Estonian Internet portal.

Defence exports are the domestic prerogative of each country, he said answering a question about a contract, under which France is building Mistral family helicopter carriers for Russia. He added that NATO does not supervise such issues.

Stoltenberg made a reservation, though, saying he would like to hope that all the NATO member-states including France realize the consequences of their actions clearly.

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