First Deputy to NSDC Secretary of Ukraine Oleg Hladkovskiy conducted negotiations on the extending of Ukrainian-Spanish cooperation in the defense sphere on May 17th in Madrid
First Deputy to NSDC Secretary of Ukraine of Ukraine Oleg Hladkovskiy on May 17th had a working visit to Madrid (Spain), where he conducted negotiations with the leadership of the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Spain.
The delegation also included Chairman of the State concern "Ukroboronprom" Roman Romanov and the leaders of the special export enterprises.
In particular, during the meeting with the State Secretary of the Ministry of Defense Pedro Arguelles Salaverria, the Ukrainian party emphasized the importance of concluding and signing of the agreement between Spain and Ukraine on military-technical cooperation, which would lay the basis for a comprehensive legal framework for the expansion of bilateral defense cooperation.
"I think it is time to focus our attention on strengthening the Ukrainian-Spanish collaboration in the military-technical cooperation. In particular, joint ventures involving Spain's Defense-Industrial Complex developments, production at Ukrainian facilities of military-oriented components for the needs of the Spanish Ministry of Defense, the involvement of Ukrainian engineering bureaus for joint projects may be considered. And that is by no means the whole list of opportunities where we can be helpful to each other" - Mr. Hladkovskiy stated.
He stressed that Ukraine considers Spain a reliable partner in the international arena and is grateful for the support of the territorial integrity of the Ukrainian state.
At the meeting with the State Secretary of the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness Jaime Garcia Legaz, the parties discussed the possibility of obtaining long-term loans for the purchase of equipment and of military and dual-purpose systems of Spanish production, as well as the attraction of investments within the framework of Ukraine's Defense-Industrial Complex modernization.
"I can assure you that today there are no obstacles and limitations for military-technical cooperation with Ukraine and for export of the corresponding production. Moreover, we are ready to discuss the possibilities of crediting of certain projects with the Ukrainian state within the framework of cooperation in the defense sphere", - Jaime Garcia Legaz noted.
During the visit, meetings with the largest defense companies in Spain - ISDEFE, Indra, Expal, Danobat group, the leadership of which expressed its willingness to strengthen cooperation with the Ukrainian party, also took place.