Georgia: Tbilisi Wary of Russia's Mistral Plans

The Kremlin's plans to purchase a French Mistral assault ship is provoking concern in Georgia, where the sale is perceived as a possible harbinger of a second possible invasion by Russia.

Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister Nino Kalandadze told a November 30 press briefing that Russian possession of the helicopter-carrier would pose a major threat to Georgia and the rest of the region. Kalandadze said that Tbilisi has raised this issue with Paris.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has not ruled out using the warship against Georgia. "Rest assured that if we purchase the armament, we will use it where we find fit," the Itar-Tass news agency quoted Putin as saying on November 28 in response to a question from a French journalist if Moscow plans to use the ship against Georgia.

The Mistral is capable of carrying over a dozen helicopters and land-based military vehicles.