Ukraine is about to attend anti-piracy campaign

25.02.2011 Ukrainian Navy may attend the anti-piracy operation in the Gulf of Aden, said Ukrainian Prime Minister Nikolai Azarov at the meeting with Anders Fog Rasmussen, NATO's Secretary General. He also assured that the government would back participation of Ukrainian Navy in anti-piracy campaign.

Ukrainian warships can carry out patrols in the Gulf of Aden and participate in piracy prevention activities, underlined Nikolai Azarov.

"Instead of getting rusty at mooring walls, warships could be useful in shipping security, and crews would acquire combat experience", said the prime minister adding Rasmussen's statement that cooperation between NATO and Ukraine has positive perspective in different areas, including anti-terror and anti-piracy.

Besides, Anders Fog Rasmussen invited Ukraine to participate in Operation Ocean Shield which implies anti-piracy activities primarily in the Gulf of Aden. It is vital to use military technologies jointly, especially when defense budgets are tied by crisis, added Rasmussen.

NATO's Secretary General said he put high hopes on NATO-Ukraine Commission which is to convene in Brussels in April. He added that NATO appreciates creation of Ukraine's governmental committee responsible for cooperative matters with NATO. "This committee is critical and successful tool in coordination of our joint activities. We appreciate establishment of such agency", concluded Rasmussen.