France to assist in providing Interior Ministry with aviation, rescue, demining equipment
Head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko and Special Commissioner of the President of France for assistance and reconstruction of Ukraine Pierre Heilbronn discussed issues of cooperation in the field of aviation of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, maritime security, as well as land and underwater demining, the press service of the ministry said.
"Today, January 17, a meeting was held at the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine between Head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko and Special Commissioner of the President of France for assistance and reconstruction of Ukraine Pierre Heilbronn. Also, the event was attended by Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Vasyl Teteria and the head of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine Serhiy Deineko," the ministry said on the website.
It is reported that "the key focus was on issues of cooperation between the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the French side in the field of aviation, maritime security, as well as land and underwater demining."
During the negotiations, the parties discussed contracts related to the aviation of the Ministry of Internal Affairs system, in particular, issues of exchanging experience with French specialists in the field of security and rescue operations, as well as providing medical equipment to helicopters carrying out evacuations. Separately, those present raised the issue of maritime security and the supply of French boats to the units of the Marine Guard of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.
"This concerns the protection of Ukraine's national interests at sea. And it is the French boats that are the main component of maritime security today," Klymenko said.
The parties also discussed a grant agreement between the governments of Ukraine and France for EUR 200 million, which is aimed at facilitating the restoration and support of critical infrastructure and the development of sectors of the Ukrainian economy.
Klymenko informed about the projects of the State Emergency Service and the National Police within the framework of this agreement: "Robotic complexes for land, underwater demining, fire extinguishing are primarily aimed at saving the lives of our pyrotechnicians, which is our absolute priority. We expect a positive decision on these projects of the Ministry of Internal Affairs system."
Klymenko also discussed with partners the issue of training Ukrainian pyrotechnicians in underwater demining, in particular in France. The minister said underwater demining is now critically important in war conditions, since it ensures the safety of waterways, ports and coastal areas. "For almost three years, specialists of the State Emergency Service have demined more than 16,000 hectares of water bodies, removing and neutralizing more than 2,000 explosive objects. In addition, today the modernization of the Underwater Demining Center continues, where 336 sapper divers have already been trained, of which 24 specialists are capable of performing deep-sea demining at a depth of up to 50 meters," he said.
In turn, Heilbronn said: "We are ready to move forward to overcome all problems and challenges together. The Ministry of Internal Affairs is doing colossal work in all areas, and I see your determined readiness. And those projects that meet the requests of the Ministry of Internal Affairs will be signed, because these are urgent needs. Our doors are always open, and you can contact us with any questions and get the help you need."