Recently, Arsen Avakov held a meeting with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the French Republic to Ukraine Etienne de Poncins.

Recently, Arsen Avakov held a meeting with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the French Republic to Ukraine Etienne de Poncins.

The parties discussed the stage of implementation of the agreements reached following the 8th meeting of the Joint Ukrainian-French Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation in November 2020.

 “I should admit the extremely progressive implementation of the contract for the manufacture of OCEA patrol boats for the needs of the State Border Guard Service. We expect to receive the first boat in the fall of this year,” Arsen Avakov said.

For his part, the French Ambassador noted that projects to improve water supply system in Mariupol and Luhansk region are currently being actively implemented:

“With the participation of French experts, a feasibility study for the modernization of the Western Filter Station of the Popasna District Waterworks is being developed,” Etienne de Poncins said.

In addition, the parties stressed the successful continuation of the development of the Unified Aviation System of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the context of the Ukrainian-French project for the production of helicopters by Airbus Helicopters.

Arsen Avakov mentioned that this year the Ministry of Internal Affairs expects to receive the next 26 helicopters and proceed to the preparation of the appropriate infrastructure necessary for the proper operation of the equipment.

As the Ambassador of France to Ukraine Etienne de Poncins noted earlier, the success of joint Ukrainian-French projects is due to the professionalism of the team of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Minister Arsen Avakov.

As an example, the Ambassador mentioned the implementation of a contract with Airbus Helicopters SAS.

“We have a very good and strong relationship with the Interior Ministry, an Airbus customer. Now the contract is being implemented in full swing, and this year 26 new helicopters are arriving in Ukraine. For Ukraine, this is a change of culture, because the former culture in this sector came from the Soviet Union. Now it is going to the West, with new standards and a new language, because it is switching from Russian to English. But, of course, these helicopters are more modern and efficient. With them, Ukraine is entering the 21st century,” he told in his interview to Interfax-Ukraine.

He also noted that the joint construction of patrol boats under the contract of Nibulon with OCEA has already begun.

“Construction started in France and it began in Nikolaev in Ukraine in December, 2020. Deliveries will begin in late 2021. This is a project worth 136 million euros, which receives financial support from the French government through a loan from the Treasury of France (40 million euros) and Bpi France (76 million euros). I was in Nikolaev with the minister Avakov for start of this project on July 22 last year. This project is very timely. I am sure that he will also be successful. There are 20 patrol boats 32 meters long.

They will bring a new element of security to Ukraine, because they are suitable for patrolling both rivers and the sea,” Etienne de Poncins said.