Remarks by Deputy Chief of Mission Sheila Gwaltney
at the Signing of the Second Protocol to the Memorandum of Understanding
Kyiv, March 20, 2006
Dear Minister, I am very pleased to sign today the Second Protocol to the Memorandum of Understanding between our Governments on Law Enforcement Assistance.
The volume of U.S. assistance in this sector has increased by over $2 million dollars since last year to the amount of $4,870,000 dollars. It means that both our governments have a growing mutual interest in expanding our law enforcement cooperation.
I would like to specifically note that $2.7 million dollars of this year's assistance will be designated for the projects implemented directly with your Ministry. We are looking forward to working closely with your colleagues to help you substantially improve the capacity of your Information Technology Department, your Anti-Trafficking Department and your Internal Security Department, the latter an important step against corruption.
The U.S. Government welcomes the efforts of the Ukrainian Government to reform its law enforcement agencies in line with European standards, to strengthen the independence of its judiciary, and to ensure that it is the rule of law that governs relationships in your society. I assure you that the U.S. Government will be your strong ally on this road.
I would like to wish you and your colleagues every success in this important work.