Oleksandr Turchynov: The newly created special purpose squad “KORD” will set high standards for the whole National Police

The newly created special purpose squad "KORD" will set high standards for the whole National Police, and the professionalism and patriotism of the Ukrainian police will ensure the effective fight against organized crime. This was stressed by Secretary of the National Security and Defense of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov during his speech at the ceremony of the completion of the two-month training course and awarding of diplomas to the soldiers of special purpose squad "KORD", which took place at the police training center on Friday.

Among the key tasks for the state Mr. Turchynov named the protection of citizens from internal and external enemies.

"We have to honestly say that in the conditions of socio-economic crisis, in which Ukraine stays, the organized crime, especially the armed one, today is stepping up its game, - he said. - The fight against the armed crime is your key task".

Mr. Turchynov expressed the conviction that the knowledge acquired by the policemen during the training, their "faith, patriotism and professionalism will allow to stop or destroy the criminals". "I believe that you will deal with this task with dignity", - NSDC Secretary stated.

"We should justify the confidence of Ukrainian citizens, who today contribute huge resources to our force structures", - NSDC Secretary emphasized. "My main wish is that you always return alive from all the most dangerous and responsible tasks", - he noted.

Answering to the journalists' questions, Oleksandr Turchynov stated that the lives of our citizens and policemen themselves will depend on the quality of preparation of "KORD" unit. "We set the task to prepare our special forces soldiers in accordance with the best world standards. And our "KORD" must not yield to the best European and American respective units. That is why we are grateful to the instructors who work with our fighters and share the best experience", - he said.

Mr. Turchynov also stressed that weapons and technical equipment of the unit should meet the best world standards. "This applies to military equipment and weapons that are currently provided to the vanguard of our police", - he said, adding that the armored vehicles "Varta" and automatic weapons produced in Ukraine, which are given to "KORD" today, are in no way inferior to and are much cheaper than European and American analogues.

"It is very important for us because we should raise the bar high from the very beginning. It is "KORD" which should set the standards for other units that will operate within the National Police", - he summarized.

Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman, Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Arsen Avakov, Chief of the National Police of Ukraine Khatia Dekanoidze, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the USA to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt took part in the event.