MOSCOW. March 20 (Interfax) - Russia will demand France repay all damages, if the Mistral deal is broken off, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Yury Borisov told reporters on Thursday.
"Of course, Russia will defend its right to the end in accordance with the agreements concluded and will demand repayment of all damages we could sustain in the case that the Mistral contract is broken off," Borisov said in regard to the statement of French officials on the possible cancellation of Mistral helicopter-carrying vessel supplies to Russia as sanctions for Crimea's accession to Russia.
The contract, concluded between Rosoboronexport and French ship-builders, stipulates punitive sanctions for cancelling the deal, Borisov said.
"I think that it is too early to voice them. It has not come to this. I hope that France will weigh everything clearly, all pluses and minuses of this contract and makes a right decision," Borisov said.
If France breaks off the Mistral deal, this will affect its international reputation first of all, Borisov said.
"As you understand, the case is not even this agreement, the case is the reputation of the state, which at a certain time concluded this agreement. This is losing the country's reputation as a partner with the entire international community," he said.