As the Director of the NATO Liaison Office in Ukraine, I would like to emphasize that the new round of discussions on the prospects for Ukraine’s military-technical cooperation with the EU and NATO member states is the result of our continued efforts aimed at supporting the Ukrainian defense industry. Last September, the NATO Liaison Office in Ukraine initiated the Ukrainian Defense Industry conference during the MSPO 2014 International Defense Industry Exhibition. We strive to offer Ukrainian companies new opportunities for representing Ukraine’s defense potential on the international level.
The reform of the Ukrainian defense industry is, naturally, one of the key development factors for Ukraine’s security and defense sector. We salute the efforts of the Ukrainian government aimed to ensure development of defense enterprises under the extremely difficult conditions of hybrid warfare.
In particular, I would like to point out the Roadmap for the Standardization Reforms in the Defense Industry for 2015-2018, jointly developed by NATO representatives, experts of the Ukroboronprom State Conglomerate, and specialists of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, in early April. This document provides for a gradual transition to Euro-Atlantic standards in the sphere of armament and military equipment production.
We want to fully utilize the potential of the NATO-Ukraine Joint Working Group on Defense Technical Cooperation, to support Ukraine in this trying time. Many aspects related to the reform in the defense industry will be addressed in the scope of practical implementation of the NATO Trust Fund projects. With regard to this, we welcome the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine that approves, and authorizes the Head of the Mission of Ukraine to NATO to sign, the Agreement between the Government of Ukraine and the NATO Support and Procurement Agency.
I would also like to thank our Ukrainian partners – the National Institute for Strategic Studies, and the Center for Army, Conversion, and Disarmament studies. Thanks to the efforts of these organizations, we successfully brought together truly competent professionals, and leading specialists of official institutions and defense enterprises.
Marcin Koziel,
Director of NATO Liaison Office in Ukraine
