Remarks by Colonel Bill Smith, U.S. Air Force (Retired)
on the Cooperative Threat Reduction program's Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation Prevention Initiative
Odesa
March 2, 2006
Gen-Col Lytvyn, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. Speaking on behalf of Ambassador Herbst, who regrets that he could not be here today:
As most of you know, the United States and Ukraine have been cooperating very closely since 2004 on the Cooperative Threat Reduction program's Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation Prevention Initiative or WMD-PPI. This initiative is designed to bolster Ukraine's capabilities to prevent proliferation of WMD, related materials, and technology and thus deny terrorists access to them. Specifically, we're working to deter, detect, interdict, and respond to illicit trafficking of such weapons across Ukraine's border with Moldova and through its ports of entry on the Black and Azov Seas. Our partners in these cooperative efforts are the State Border Guard Service and the State Customs Service.
To achieve our goals and objectives, we are working with the SBGS and the SCSU to develop prioritized recommendations that will allow a flexible response to an ever-changing threat. We're also developing innovative approaches and recommendations to help the SBGS and the SCSU enhance tactics, techniques, procedures, doctrine, and concept of operations to enhance their effectiveness in the WMD detection and interdiction missions. We're providing training for the individual, the leader, and the maintainer. Lastly, we are providing equipment that builds on current SBGS and SCSU capabilities to support the proliferation prevention mission.
The equipment you see on display here today has been transferred to the SBGS to support the Ukraine-Moldova Border Proliferation Prevention Project. It will significantly enhance surveillance, detection, interdiction, response, and communications capabilities. The equipment includes: night-vision devices, binoculars, global-positioning receivers, and radios. We have also provided minivans, jeeps, motorcycles, and automobiles to enhance the SBGS's mobility, especially along Ukraine's extensive green borders.
We are very pleased to be working with Ukraine on these WMD-PPI projects, and very excited about Ukraine's growing proliferation prevention capabilities.
Regarding this last point ….. about a year ago, General Lytvyn and I stood on a similar platform at a similar event here in Odessa region celebrating the first major transfer of custody of equipment under this program. I thanked him them for his vision, for his leadership, and for his commitment to the goals and objectives of EMD-PPI here in Ukraine, and I thank him again now. Simply stated, we could not have achieved the successes of this cooperative enterprise without the tremendous support of General Lytvyn, his magnificent staff, and his outstanding border guards. Very clearly, Ukraine and the world are safer today because of their efforts. Thank you all.