OREANDA-NEWS. September 28, 2016. President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko and President of the State of Israel Reuven Rivlin have discussed the entire complex of issues of bilateral cooperation between the countries.

“We have agreed on significant broadening of economic cooperation,” the Head of State noted during his press statement following the negotiations.

The President emphasized that the visit of the Israeli President to Ukraine had a special, symbolic character.

“We have agreed to speed up negotiations on concluding the FTA Agreement, which is the only mutually beneficial anti-crisis measure. I am sure that we will demonstrate progress in this issue shortly,” Petro Poroshenko said.

The parties have also agreed to promptly conduct the regular session of the Ukraine-Israel Joint Commission for Trade and Economic Cooperation.

“I expect our delegations to reach progress in further liberalization of air connection between our countries. We must get rid of any obstacles for Ukrainian and Israeli companies. We have also agreed to initiate practical cooperation in scientific-technical sphere, tourism and agriculture. Ukrainians are particularly interested in the experience of Israel in irrigation farming,” the Head of State noted.

The President offered Israeli investors to participate in the large-scale privatization that will be held in Ukraine in 2016-2017. “We saw great interest in this direction,” he added.

The President informed his Israeli colleague on the development of relations with the EU, inter alia, in the context of the visa-free regime and implementation of the Association and FTA Agreement.

In his turn, the President of Israel noted that 25 years of diplomatic relations with Ukraine was not only an “excellent occasion to celebrate our cooperation”, but also an opportunity to do much good for the citizens of our countries.

“Ukraine has recently demonstrated great changes focusing in its reforms on profound democratic values professed by Israel,” he said.

Reuven Rivlin expressed gratitude to President Petro Poroshenko and Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman for their “struggle for reforms in energy sphere and public administration”.

“These reforms reflect the aspirations of Ukrainians and deserve international recognition,” the President of Israel noted and expressed belief that “reforms and democratic transformations will make our countries closer to one another”.