According to RIA Novosti, Russian Minister of Defense Anatoly Savelyev has departed to Paris with working visit. He will be carrying on negotiations with the French Minister of Defense Gerard Longe.

"The parties intend to discuss the prospect of military and military technical cooperation between the countries ", - said press secretary of the Russian ministry Irina Kovalchuk.

According to her, Serdyukov intends to discuss a number of international security problems during his meeting with Minister of Defense of France. The upcoming meeting of two ministers is the first one since February 2011 when Longe has been appointed the Minister of Defense.

The acquisition of two helicopter carriers Mistral and a license for constructing two more carriers in Russia will also be discussed in Paris. The contract is expected to be signed in April.

The corresponding governmental agreement has been signed in Paris in January.

First Deputy Minister of Defense Vladimir Popovkin has reported earlier that amount of this contract is €1.5 billion.

A source close to the negotiations has reported in December 2010 that first Mistral for Russia will be built in 2013 - 2014 and the second one - in 2014 - 2015. Russia's contribution in construction of the first ship will be 20%, and for the second one - 40%. Two more ships should be built in Russia after that, using the French license.

Preliminarily, the cost of first ship will be €720 million and the cost of second one will be |650 million. Russian ships will be constructed by Admiralty Shipyards facility based in Kronstadt.