Petro Tsygykal: Only joint actions are the key to a strong and united Europe with Ukraine as a reliable advance stronghold on its eastern borders

Today, October 30, a round table on improving safety at sea and development of the Maritime Security Service of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine began in Odesa. It was organized by the Ukrainian Border Guard Service with the support of the U.S. Embassy.

The event is being held with the participation of representatives of law enforcement agencies of foreign states being stakeholders of maritime security, as well as the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (FRONTEX) and the EU Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM).

"The issues of strengthening the maritime border security, which we are putting on the agenda of our event, today, as never before, have become relevant", stressed the Head of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine Petro Tsygykal in his opening statement.

He stressed that "in addition to the traditional threats faced by any state in terms of maritime border security, violations of international maritime law in the exclusive (maritime) economic zone and annexed territorial sea are still being observed."

Petro Tsygykal noted the intensification of groundless naval and law enforcement activities in maritime communications, adding that the preconditions for economic blockade of sea and river ports of Ukraine are being created.

"Only joint actions are the key to a strong and united Europe with Ukraine as a reliable advance stronghold on its eastern borders", stressed the Head of the State Border Guard Service.

In the framework of the roundtable, foreign colleagues will also be present the Program for the development of the Maritime Security Service of the State Border Guard Service for the period 2019-2021. It should be noted that it covers a wide range of activities from the improvement of regulatory support to optimizing the management system and logistics.