JICA President Akihiko Tanaka exchanged views with Mr. Kulikivski, Director of the International Technical Assistance Department of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SESU), and eight officials of the SESU at JICA Headquarters on January 23.
At the beginning of the meeting, President Tanaka expressed his condolences to the victims of the January 18 helicopter crash in Kiev, including Minister of Internal Affairs Monastirsky, who was killed in the crash. He then paid tribute to the SESU, which puts its life on the line every day to protect the lives and safety of the Ukrainian people, and expressed JICA’s willingness to promptly assist in strengthening humanitarian mine and UXO countermeasures capacity. He also said that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a clear violation of international law and a challenge to the international order, and that the SESU’s activities contribute not only to the safety and security of people, but also to the international order. He further explained that the SESU delegation’s participation in a training course on mine and UXO countermeasures at the Cambodia Mine Action Center (CMAC) from January 16 to 20 was significant in terms of Asia’s cooperation with Ukraine.
In response, Mr. Kulikivski, Director of the International Technical Assistance Department of the SESU, explained that approximately 30% of Ukraine’s land area (174,000 square kilometers) may be contaminated by landmines and unexploded ordnance, and that mine and UXO control is essential for the safety and security of the people and a condition for Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction. He also emphasized the importance of mine and UXO countermeasures, saying that the contamination of farmland restricts Ukraine’s grain production and exports, which has also led to a global food crisis. He also expressed his gratitude to the Japanese government, people, and JICA, and expressed his hope for deeper cooperation in the future.
© Source JICA