Katsav Cites Ukraine As Example

The relationship between Ukraine and Israel is an example of how the links between states should be built, Israeli President Moshe Katsav has emphasized. Israel’s head of state has made an official visit to Ukraine. On January 22 he met with high Ukrainian officials, including President Leonid Kuchma. Mr. Katsav spent the first day of his visit in Kharkiv where he took part in a solemn ceremony of transferring humanitarian aid to the Institute of Therapy. The Department of Therapy and Intensive Care of this institution received $450,000 worth of modern medical and technical equipment from Israel. Ukraine became the first in Katsav’s tour to the states of the former Soviet Union. It is also the first foreign visit by the Israeli president, who assumed office last July. After Ukraine Mr. Katsav will also visit Russia and Georgia. It is perhaps not so important whether Katsav chose Ukraine by chance or design as his first state visit this year. However, the second alternative would for Kyiv be much more pleasant and hopeful. Israel’s desire to build its relationship with Ukraine, not least in the economic sphere, could be noticed long ago. This is demonstrated by the repeated visits to Ukraine of Israeli lawmaker Roman Bronfman, who supervises the sphere of Ukrainian-Israeli cooperation in the Knesset.

Yet, for the time being Israel and Ukraine have little to boast about in terms of the fruits of their relations. The Ukrainian and Israeli heads of state attempted to learn the reasons for failures in carrying out various kinds of economic projects. Pres. Kuchma admitted, “Capital wants to have political stability, which in Ukraine some forces are trying to undermine.” In his opinion, the inflow of foreign capital into the economy of the country demands “a stable legal base.” Simultaneously, Mr. Kuchma reminded his listeners that the Tax Code is yet to be adopted in the country. The Ukrainian head of state’s admitting the existence of far from happy conditions for the work of foreign investors apparently did not greatly upset his colleague. Mr. Katsav stated he had also brought a large delegation of business representatives. On this occasion the Israeli head of state pointed out that “a joint economic commission that will meet in the immediate future” will be able to solve the existing problems. In the end the Israeli leader added that “a good period of active cooperation and influx of Israeli capital to Ukraine awaits us.”