BELGIUM: NATO's Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen welcomes Ukraine's joining of the 'Ocean Shield' anti-piracy mission off the coast of East Africa

Record ID: 860746

  • Title: BELGIUM: NATO's Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen welcomes Ukraine's joining of the 'Ocean Shield' anti-piracy mission off the coast of East Africa
  • Date: 22nd February 2013
  • Summary: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (FEBRUARY 22, 2013) (REUTERS) NATIONAL FLAGS OF NATO MEMBERS AND SCULPTURE OUTSIDE NATO HEADQUARTERS NATO AND BELGIAN FLAGS OUTSIDE NATO HEADQUARTERS
  • Embargoed: 9th March 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Belgium
  • City:
  • Country: Belgium
  • Topics: International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA54RZ0MAL2WCM1S09J38TGPFTL
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Ukrainian Defence Minister Pavlo Lebedev took part in a Ukraine NATO summit at NATO's headquarters on Friday (February 22) aimed at strengthening cooperation between the military organization and the former Soviet republic.
    The summit was held on the sidelines of a two-day NATO defence ministers meeting that focussed on NATO's changing role in Afghanistan and efforts to improve the alliance capabilities amidst declining defence budgets.
    After a bilateral talks with the Ukraine delegation, NATO's Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, announced Ukraine's decision to participate in the Alliance's anti-piracy mission off the coast of Somalia known as 'Ocean Shield'
    "I just had a letter exchange with Mr. Lebedev that confirms Ukraine's participation to NATO's anti-piracy operation 'Ocean Shield'," Rasmussen said.
    The letter said Ukraine would contribute a frigate and a helicopter to NATO's operations.
    Rasmussen reminded Ukraine it stood ready to support the country with its efforts to reform the country and implement rule of law.

    "We are also committed to supporting Ukraine's other reform efforts. In particular, the determined implementation of reforms to reinforce democracy and the rule of law would benefit the people of Ukraine and the whole Euro-Atlantic community," Rasmussen said.
    While Ukraine's President Viktor Yanukovich has taken membership of the U.S. military alliance off the agenda, he has been careful not to close off cooperation with NATO. Ukraine contributes to the NATO-led missions in Kosovo and Afghanistan, and has committed to the NATO-led mission to train, advise and assist the Afghan forces after the end of the ISAF mission in 2014.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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