05.10.2016 07:08
Poland’s Development Ministry ended negotiations over an offset
deal with Airbus Helicopters, which had been one of the conditions for Poland’s
purchase of 50 aircraft.
“Differences
in the negotiating stances of both sides prevented us from arriving at a
compromise, as a result of which conducting further talks is now pointless,”
the Ministry said in a statement.
The previous Civic Platform-led
government chose to purchase 50 ‘Eurocopter’ EC725 helicopters for a price of
PLN 13.5 billion (EUR 3.2 billion) in April 2015, rejecting rival offers from
the Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation and AgustaWestland PZL Świdnik.
The decision to purchase from a
French firm rather than a Polish one was met with domestic criticism at the
time. The current Law and Justice government gave indications that it might
cancel the deal after winning elections in October 2015.
The Development Ministry defended
its approach. “During a year-long negotiation, the Polish side was open minded
and ready to work on potential solutions which could be accepted by both
sides.”
According to government
representatives, the Polish side wanted offset deals to be worth around PLN
13.5 billion, the same as the helicopter purchase itself. Without an offset
deal the main purchase cannot go ahead.
“This is a good lesson to all who
want to talk with the Polish government, that if we agree on something then we
expect that negotiations will aim to realize this agreement,” said deputy
Defence Minister Bartosz Kownacki,.
“Now it will be necessary to
conduct an analysis of to what extent and under what conditions the Polish Army
will need helicopters, and how we should buy them,” Kownacki added.
Meanwhile MPs from the now
opposition Civic Platform party speculated the government may have deliberately
sabotaged the offset negotiations to provide an excuse for cancelling the deal.
(sl/rg)
Source: PAP
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