On the afternoon 27 January MCC Northwood hosted a short visit by the Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Minister Poroshenko, the Deputy MFA Mr Kostiantyn Yelisieiev, the Defence Attaché Col. Kyryliuk and Secretary Nikitov.
During their visit they were given briefings on counter piracy by Rear Admiral Bartolomé Bauzá, Deputy Commander EU Naval Force Somalia - Operation Atalanta and by NATO’s Deputy Chief of Staff Operations, Cdre Hans Helseth (NOR N). At the end of the visit, Minister Poroshenko thanked both organisations for their help and cooperation following the release of the Ukrainian vessel, MV Ariana.
Minister Poroshenko also announced that Ukraine will participate more actively in the international effort to fight piracy and stabilize Somalia. He reaffirmed Ukraine's intention to offer a Special Forces team to be used as a Vessel Protection Detachment (VPD) on behalf of Operation Atalanta. He confirmed that detailed planning was going to be started in the coming days.
EUNAVFOR SOMALIA Operation ATALANTA main tasks are to escort merchant vessels carrying humanitarian aid of the ‘World Food Program’ (WFP), to protect vulnerable ships in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean and to deter and disrupt piracy.
During their visit they were given briefings on counter piracy by Rear Admiral Bartolomé Bauzá, Deputy Commander EU Naval Force Somalia - Operation Atalanta and by NATO’s Deputy Chief of Staff Operations, Cdre Hans Helseth (NOR N). At the end of the visit, Minister Poroshenko thanked both organisations for their help and cooperation following the release of the Ukrainian vessel, MV Ariana.
Minister Poroshenko also announced that Ukraine will participate more actively in the international effort to fight piracy and stabilize Somalia. He reaffirmed Ukraine's intention to offer a Special Forces team to be used as a Vessel Protection Detachment (VPD) on behalf of Operation Atalanta. He confirmed that detailed planning was going to be started in the coming days.
EUNAVFOR SOMALIA Operation ATALANTA main tasks are to escort merchant vessels carrying humanitarian aid of the ‘World Food Program’ (WFP), to protect vulnerable ships in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean and to deter and disrupt piracy.