REUTERS
The president stressed the NSDC had already made a decision on a full audit at Ukroboronprom enterprises.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has said newly appointed Deputy Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) of Ukraine Serhiy Kryvonos is preparing a bill to reform Ukraine's state-owned defense giant Ukroboronprom and increase the level of transparency in the implementation of the state defense order.
Speaking during a Svoboda Slova [Freedom of Speech] panel show on Ukraine's ICTV channel on March 18, Poroshenko stressed the Verkhovna Rada should urgently consider legislative changes regarding the reform of Ukroboronoprom, while the relevant bill was already being prepared by Kryvonos and would be submitted to parliament by the president of Ukraine as w priority.
"I trust Colonel Kryvonos. I trust the Armed Forces. He has full mandate for quite serious steps," Poroshenko said, adding that Kryvonos's are of responsibility included reforming Ukroboronprom.
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The president stressed the NSDC had already made a decision on a full audit at Ukroboronprom enterprises.
Poroshenko expressed confidence there was support for reforms in parliament that could make the concern's operations more open. "It is about the disclosure of part of contracts of the state defense order and attracting foreign partners to the activities of the concern," he said.
According to Poroshenko, personnel decisions will be taken in the near future regarding the composition of the supervisory board of Ukroboronprom in connection with the expiration of the term of office of individual members.
"I have instructed Colonel Serhiy Kryvonos to select relevant proposals and set up a competition to recruit a new Ukroboronprom supervisory board, including with the assistance of our international partners – NATO Allies. It is absolutely essential for me to make sure we are able to get the most modern weapons," Poroshenko said.
On March 16, Poroshenko enacted the NSDC's decision of March 6 "On reforming the defense industry complex and increasing the level of transparency in fulfilling the state defense order."