French Ambassador to Ukraine: We rely on Ukraine as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council to give priority to the fight against terrorism in the UN

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Kyiv, November 16, 2015. “As of today, at least 129 people have died and 352 are injured because of the terrorist attacks in Paris on November 13. We have already identified five of the seven attackers. Police have arrested several suspects, including family members and friends of terrorists in France and Belgium,” informed Isabelle Dumont, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of France to Ukraine at a press briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center. Ambassador Dumont reminded that the leadership of the country has taken a number of measures, including a state of emergency throughout the country. This state may include restrictions on the movement of people, prohibition of public events, carrying out searches, withdrawing weapons, etc. “The Head of State made for the fact that a state of emergency, which was declared for 12 days, should be subsequently extended for months. This requires the adoption of a special law in parliament,” said the Ambassador. In addition, she said, the government has increased amount of police and soldiers patrolling the streets, and in cooperation with other countries strengthened control on border crossings, roads, seaports and airports. The country announced three days of national mourning, which is the longest in the history of country, said Ms. Dumont. Meanwhile, France continues fight against terrorism. “French aviation subjected to massive bombing the stronghold of Islamic state in the Syrian city of Rakka,” said the diplomat.

According to Ms. Dumont, the country cooperates with other nations in the fight against terrorism. After all, no country alone can fight the evil of terrorism, “terrorism has no borders, and it’s a challenge for all of us.” Head of the diplomatic mission said that there are a number of mechanisms at both the UN and the EU levels, there is a constant exchange of information and cooperation between agencies of different countries. In particular, it means cooperation between the ministries of justice and police of different countries, primarily Belgium, where suspects in the Paris attack probably come from. In order to strengthen cooperation mechanisms, the Interior Minister of France appealed for holding a meeting of the Interior Ministers of the European Union on November 20 to discuss strengthening fight against terrorism. “We will focus on introducing a European system of sharing passenger data, strengthening coordination and control at the external Schengen borders, controlling firearms trafficking, and neutralizing the sources of financing terrorism,” said Dumont. The diplomat noted that they will continue issuing visas to Ukrainians, but there will be a more thorough examination at the border, in particular, she advised to arrive at the airport a few hours earlier.

According to the Ambassador, Ukraine’s leadership is willing to strengthen cooperation in combating terrorism. “We look forward to Ukraine, which from January next year will sit as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council to give the fight against terrorism priority at the UN. President Poroshenko has already declared this position of Ukraine,” said Isabelle Dumont.