“Compared to 1996 when I was on the first working visit to Ukraine, I cannot fail to notice obviously positive changes in Ukrainian-Israeli relationships,” Roman Bronfman, leader of the Ukraine- Israel parliamentary delegation, told journalists on June 22. To prove his point, Mr. Bronfman informed that the trade turnover has increased twofold over the past four years (amounting to $200 million last year). He stressed that “there is headway in military defense cooperation” (e.g., modernization of Ukrainian warplanes and tanks, and their subsequent sales). In addition, he sees considerable prospects for the tourist business in Ukraine “both on the Crimean coast and in Kyiv.” Mr. Bronfman promised to encourage Israeli businessmen to invest in tourism.
During this visit Knesset delegates met with Ukrainian legislative and executive functionaries, including Volodymyr Lytvyn, head of the Presidential Administration, with whom they agreed on dispatching an engineer battalion of 650 officers and men to the Israeli-Lebanese frontier. When asked by The Day whether Ukraine could play a more active role in the Middle East peace process, Mr. Bronfman emphasized that Ukraine’s “very good relationships with a number of Arab countries” could be of help to Israel, adding that “we would greet any objective assistance if not intercession.”
The Israeli delegation leader stated that his government had resolved to allocate $250,000 for the Chornobyl Containment Project (its total cost is estimated at $758 million - Author ), adding that the decision was made “precisely at this stage.” He said an extra 100 Ukrainian children would be able to undergo treatment in Israel (previously the number ranged between 300 and 400).
Finally, the Israeli dignitary stressed that “not all potential has been exhausted in Ukrainian-Israeli relations.” A number of questions are still open, like the need to institute dual citizenship in Ukraine, say, for those 300,000 Ukrainian immigrants in Israel.
Ukrainian lawmakers showed an interest in the Israeli law providing for legislative oversight. Mr. Bronfman told them that the structure of this control secures monitoring of business entities entirely or partially run by the government. He said his Ukrainian colleagues’ interest was quite understandable, considering the struggle against corruption underway in Ukraine.
