Tonight the AN-12 cargo plane from Switzerland has arrived at
Boryspil airport bringing antiviral drug Tamiflu to Ukraine, presidential press office reported. Prime
Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, President’s Chief of Staff Vira Ulyanchenko
and Foreign Minister Petro Poroshenko have come to the airport to meet
the cargo.
"The President of Ukraine highly appreciates the
rapid implementation of his and NSDC’s instructions to get assistance
to Ukraine in the fight against flu epidemics by the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs", said President’s Chief of Staff Vira Ulyanchenko. On
behalf of the Head of State, she expressed appreciation to Minister of
Foreign Affairs for the efficient work. "I would like to congratulate
Ukraine on the fact that the goods which we really need were delivered
in such a short period of time", said Vira Ulyanchenko.
Chief of President’s Staff expressed hope that today’s arrival of cargo
is only the first step in providing effective assistance to Ukraine in
the fight against the epidemic.
Vira Ulyanchenko also
reminded that today President Victor Yushchenko appealed for assistance
to Ukraine to the President of the European Commission, NATO Secretary
General, leaders of Belarus, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, the
United States and Hungary.
According to her some
humanitarian aid, such as mask, has already been delivered in Lviv
region in within the framework of cooperation between this region and
some regions of Poland. "We hope that we will see such steps made by
our other friends", said Vira Ulyanchenko.
The Chief of Staff also thanked Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd for providing
Ukraine with Tamiflu for such a low price (67 hryvnyas per pack) and
emphasized that any speculative selling of the drug is unacceptable
(the drugs delivered today will be distributed exclusively in
hospitals).
