Turchynov: Buildup and strengthening of national security and defense sector is a basis for ensuring the democratic free development of our country

Buildup and strengthening of national security and defense sector is a basis for ensuring the democratic free development of our country. This was stated by Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov, speaking at the opening of "Ukrainian Forum on defense and security".

Mr. Turchynov reminded that the current vector of reforming the Armed Forces, the Security Service, Ministry of Internal Affairs in Ukraine is defined in the National Security Strategy of Ukraine, Military Doctrine, as well as in other important regulatory acts, which have already been enacted or will be adopted in the nearest future.

This vector, he said, "concerns, first of all, having no alternative to the choice of Ukrainian people in favor of European and Euro-Atlantic integration". "Precisely transition to NATO standards, building up the security and defense sector, which will be in line with the best examples of leading European countries and Alliance member states, - these are the tasks that we are trying to realize despite the fact that enormous resource of the country are being diverted to confront the aggressor", - NSDC Secretary of Ukraine said. With that, he reminded that in accordance with the National Security Strategy, "second year in a row we direct 5% of GDP for ensuring the security and defense of our country".

Yet another strategic direction of reforming the security and defense sector Mr. Turchynov called the priority development of the defense-industrial capacity of our country.

"In my belief the position of some European politicians, that we should not irritate the aggressor, is erroneous. This "Munich Syndrome", which, unfortunately, continues to live today as well, led to the fact that we don't have an effective military-technical collaboration with our strategic partners" - Turchynov noted. "That's exactly why the development of military-industrial complex became our priority, - he stated. - This is a very wide range of areas of activity, ranging from small arms to manufacturing of powerful armored vehicles, aircrafts and potent missile weapon etc."

Having noted that among the participants of the event are potential partners and investors for Ukrainian Defense Industry, NSDC Secretary of Ukraine expressed hope that the work of the Forum will contribute to strengthening of ties, to development and investing into the domestic Defense Industry, "which is absolutely ready for that". With that, Mr. Turchynov emphasized that the authorities contribute not only to the development of state Defense Industry, but to public-private partnership, and to the development of private enterprises in this direction. "So I would be very happy if the work of the Forum results in framing of real joint investment promising projects of development of military-industrial enterprises in Ukraine", - he said.

Mr. Turchynov also declared that weapons and military equipment, produced in Ukraine, are competitive also on foreign markets, considering that "they are being tested not on the proving grounds but in dire combat conditions".

NSDC Secretary of Ukraine expressed hope that experts on defense and security issues, participating in the forum, will help Ukraine to draw out "new strategic documents, to provide them with new quality that will let to take into account the best practices of NATO member states".

"I am convinced that the outcome of this Forum will serve to strengthen the defense and security not only of our country but also of all Europe", - Mr. Turchynov summed.

The Forum is held under the patronage of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and the State Concern "Ukroboronprom". The Forum will become the first and the largest international platform in Ukraine that will bring together the military, experts and analysts from around the world, as well as Ukrainian market participants and leading foreign manufacturers of weapons and military equipment - with the focus on investments into domestic Defense Industry.

The event was attended by Minister of Defense of Ukraine Stepan Poltorak, Chairman of the Security Service of Ukraine Vasyl Grytsak, the management of the State Concern "Ukroboronprom", diplomats, representatives and experts of NATO, heads of leading Western defense enterprises, domestic and foreign experts in the field of security and defense.