Russia and France to Collaborate More Closely in Area of Defense/MOSCOW, April 29/rosbaltnew

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Russia and France to Collaborate More Closely in Area of Defense

MOSCOW, April 29. France and Russia agreed on Friday to intensify military cooperation and joint weapons production to counter regional and global threats, the Defense Ministers of the two countries said.
"The meetings took place in a climate of great cordiality, great confidence and a very practical spirit with a look toward the future," French Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie said following talks with Russian Defense Minister Sergey Ivanov.
Russia and France, both of which firmly opposed the US-led war in Iraq, have intensified political and diplomatic cooperation in recent months.
They now look set to deepen military ties as well.
Both ministers said their countries want to develop weaponry that could be sold to third countries and to hold joint training exercises to improve the ability of their armed forces to work together.
Ms Alliot-Marie stressed that France and Russia historically had strong military ties that could help the two countries develop better relations in the 21st century.