Int'l defence equipments exhibition opens in Polish city

Polish Defence Minister Tomasz Siemoniak opened the 22nd International Defense Industry Exhibition in Polish city of Kielce on Monday.

This year's exhibition was being held during the most serious security crisis in Europe since the end of the Cold War, Siemoniak noted, referring to the Ukraine situation.

"Not only can we watch military hardware here but also in television news reports as it works and kills people. All of us are well aware of this and it calls for the joint responsibility of the state authorities, defence industry and our allies," Siemoniak said.

After visiting France's exhibition stand at this year's event, he said that it "shows the great potential of our partner" and hoped for increased cooperation.

"France is among Poland's closest NATO and EU allies. We have developed numerous joint defence projects and now hope for France' s active participation in the modernisation programme of Polish armed forces and for French cooperation with our defence firms," the minister declared.

French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, also present at the event, stressed that the strength of NATO depends on its rapid reaction capability and inter-operational ability.

"It is important to test the (NATO) rapid reaction potential in exercises. Exercises testing NATO's ability to react within 72 hours should be held in Poland and in the Baltic states," the French minister declared.

About 500 firms from 27 states are taking part in the Kielce exhibition, which will last 4 days, including manufacturers of air and missile defence systems and multi-task helicopters.

The Polish Defence Ministry has planned to select suppliers of those systems for the Polish armed forces by 2015.