Ukrainian Airplane to Join EU NAVFOR Somalia in Oct

28.03.2012 In Oct 2012, Ukrainian Navy's airplane An-26 will join EU Operation Atalanta conducted off Somalia to counter piracy, reports Ukrinform referring to Vasily Filipchuk, Director of Political Dept, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry.

As for him, "Ukrainian naval airplane An-26 will be dispatched to the mission area in Oct. It will carry out patrol and reconnaissance tasks", specified Ukrinform.

The airplane, pilots and maintenance staff will be deployed at French naval base in Djibouti, Filipchuk said. Ukraine and EU will sign appropriate technical arrangement in the nearest time. "Presently, we negotiate on financing issues", said the representative of Ukraine Foreign Ministry.

"This is very important mission for Ukraine, since it is in keeping with our national interests. In its turn, European Union and particularly Political and Security Committee defined this contribution as quite considerable", pointed out V. Filipchuk.