In the wake of the crisis in Ukraine, the United States had been pressing France as well as Britain and Germany to take a tougher line against Russia and cancel the Mistral contract.
But France refuses to link the helicopter carrier deal to the US/EU debate over tougher sanctions against Russia.
A French government official travelling with President Francoise Hollande in Azerbaijan Sunday, who asked not be named, told reporters that the contract was too big to cancel and that if France didn't fulfill the order it would be hit with penalties.
"The Mistrals are not part of the third level of sanctions. They will be delivered. The contract has been paid and there would be financial penalties for not delivering it."It would be France that is penalized. It's too easy to say France has to give up on the sale of the ships. We have done our part," the official said.
Comment: Regarding Golden Dawn's cache of past actions, this is a bad idea altogether.
But the plot thickens: Interesting, while the court ruling referred to above came out on Sunday May 11, the next day, Monday May 12, the supreme court received an envelop containing bullets and a threatening letter. From the Greek Reporter: