2011-02-12 12:30

KIEV - Ukraine armed forces commander-in-chief Hryhoriy Pedchenko met here with Deputy Chairman of the NATO Military Committee Walter Gaskin on Friday to discuss further military cooperation.

Pedchenko reiterated directions preferable for his country's armed forces in bilateral cooperation, such as participation in multinational military training, involving Ukraine's armed forces in high alert formations and crisis management campaigns, as well as implementation of joint defence projects.

Gaskin said that current partnership between Ukraine and NATO is flexible and productive, expressing respect for Ukraine's nonaligned political stance.

"We respect Ukraine's nonaligned status. At the same time we are very grateful to Ukraine for its contribution to operations to settle crises under the guidance of NATO," he said.

Speaking about further military cooperation, Gaskin said NATO will pay great attention to bilateral cooperation on Ukraine's armed forces restructuring, its weapons modernization and the state's participation in NATO's peacekeeping operations.

"The year 2011 will be a difficult year for all of us, taking into account some financial limitations and limits, but I hope that through joint efforts we will be able to achieve the set goals," stressed Gaskin, who arrived here Friday to mark the Eleventh NATO International Week.

After the meeting Gaskin visited the Ukraine's National University of Defence where the NATO International Week is being held.