France Grants Peru Cut in Jet Purchase
France has formally agreed to let Peru reduce a planned purchase of 26 French jet fighters, Foreign Minister Alan Wagner has disclosed.
Wagner, who returned Saturday from Paris, said Monday that French External Relations Minister Roland Dumas made the commitment during talks between the two leaders last week.
Wagner said Peru still needs to work out technical and financial agreements with Avions Marcel Dassault-Breguet Aviation, the French firm that manufactures the top-of-the-line Mirage 2000s, before the contract is formally amended.
President Alan Garcia announced Peru’s desire to cut back on the purchase of the 26 Mirage 2000s as part of his inaugural day proposal July 28 for regional disarmament in Latin America.
The proposal hit some snags when the French firm balked at reducing the $700-million contract signed in late 1982 without a large penalty payment.
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