Ukrainian PM discusses broader cooperation with Israeli parliament's speaker
Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman met with Israeli Knesset Speaker Yuli-Yoel Edelstein on Wednesday to discuss broader economic cooperation between the two countries and the recognition of the 1932-1933 Holodomor (artificial famine) in Ukraine as genocide, the Ukrainian Cabinet's press service reported.
"We are interested in seeing Israeli business have its representation in Ukraine," Groysman said. "A lot of fields in Ukraine may look interesting to Israeli achievements and technologies," he said.
"Strategic cooperation between our countries is of great significance. It would be good if we could use our opportunities as much as possible to develop our bilateral cooperation," he said.
He said he hoped preparations for signing a free trade treaty between Ukraine and Israel would be completed and that it would be signed by the end of next year.
The parties also discussed the possibility of the Israeli Knesset's recognition of the 1932-1933 Holodomor as an act of genocide of the Ukrainian people.
"This does not concern any other state but it concerns Ukraine and Ukrainians. This was an artificially created tragedy, which claimed the lives of absolutely innocent people," Groysman said.
The parties also discussed the establishment of a memorial museum before the 80th anniversary of the Babi Yar (Babyn Yar) Massacre tragedy.
It was reported earlier that the Verkhovna Rada on November 16 ratified an agreement signed in June on temporary employment of Ukrainian workers in a number of industries on the Israeli labor market, and President Petro Poroshenko signed the ratified agreement on November 23.