PARIS. June 21 (Interfax) - Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov and his French counterpart Gerard Longuet met in Paris on Monday for talks highlighted by regional security and European missile defense.
"During the meeting, the ministers examined the state of bilateral military and military-technological cooperation, and future prospects," the Russian Defense Ministry's press secretary Irina Kovalchuk has told reporters.
Both hailed the successful completion of talks on the purchase of two French Mistral helicopter carriers by Russia.
The deal "paves the way for further cooperation between Russia and France in the military-technological field," Kovalchuk quoted Defense Minister Serdyukov as saying.
The ministers discussed the situation in Libya and Afghanistan, and other regional security concerns.
European missile defense received special attention with Serdyukov reiterating Russia's call for a common missile defense system based on the principles of indivisible security.