Ukrainian Radio: Yanukovych, Lieberman discuss free trade area between Ukraine, Israel

President Viktor Yanukovych and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Israel Avigdor Lieberman discussed the creation of a free trade area between the two countries and further development of effective trade and economic cooperation, Ukrainian Radio informs on Saturday.

"The sides discussed issues of creating a free trade area, increasing trade between the countries," Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Kostiantyn Hryshchenko said after the meeting. "We come from the fact that this year may bring about a billion (dollars) in total trade in goods and services," he said. Hryshchenko also noted that in recent years Ukraine and Israel have taken several fundamentally important decisions that benefit the citizens of both countries. In particular, the question of establishing a visa-free regime. The minister noted that this issue is also important from the standpoint of maintaining contacts with our compatriots, who at different times went to Israel. "We are in constant and very productive dialogue with the State of Israel at all levels," he said. A considerable attention during the meeting was paid to discussing the situation in the Middle East. Apart from this, Yanukovych and Lieberman focused on the Ukrainian-Israeli cooperation in science and technology, strengthening of human contacts, political dialogue.