Kuchma heads for Mideast to promote business with Ukraine (01/26/03)

Kuchma heads for Mideast to promote business with Ukraine

by Roman Woronowycz
Kyiv Press Bureau

KYIV - Ukraine's President Leonid Kuchma toured several Persian Gulf states on January 18-22 to develop economic ties and promote business investment.

It was the first official visit ever by a Ukrainian state leader to any of these four Arab countries - Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates - and came as the region faces an ever-increasing threat of war at its doorstep between the U.S. and Iraq.

The visit gave Mr. Kuchma the opportunity to develop Ukraine's stance with regard to the prospects for peace in the region. The Ukrainian president established during his first day in Riyadh, the Saudi capital, that Kyiv stands on the side of the United Nations to peacefully settle the U.S.-Iraq confrontation. He also said according to Interfax-Ukraine that he agrees with the demand put forward by some European countries that the U.N. Security Council pass a second resolution before any military action takes place against Iraq.

Mr. Kuchma told his Saudi host that like them he believes a land for peace deal could resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He underscored that both sides must adhere to and fulfill U.N. resolutions that already are in place.

The Ukrainian president continued to speak about peace in the Middle East during his next stop in Kuwait.

"The full arsenal of options available to the U.N. Security Council and the global community must be utilized in the attempt to find a peaceful resolution to issues involving the situation in Iraq and around it," stated Mr. Kuchma soon after his arrival in Kuwait City. He said that Ukraine would support a U.S.-led military foray into Iraq only after the United Nations approved it.

He also pointed out the cost of war, noting that the first Persian Gulf War in 1991 cost Kuwait $180 billion, which only gave an inkling of what could be in store if another conflict occurred in the region.

For the most part, however, the Ukrainian president spent his meetings with the leaders of the four countries by presenting opportunities for business investment in Ukraine and voicing the need for closer economic ties and more trade turnover. Among the specific topics discussed were cooperation in aircraft construction, development of satellite systems and utilization of the Odesa-Brody-Gdansk pipeline for the movement of Middle East oil.

In Riyadh, Ukraine agreed to help Saudi Arabia develop a project for the enlargement of electricity-generation capabilities, while in Kuwait discussions centered on the country as a destination for many Ukrainian products. Kuwait is regarded as the major re-distributor of European and Western goods in the region. Kuwaiti officials also expressed interest in Ukrainian aircraft and railroad construction.

In Bahrain on January 21, President Kuchma and the Ukrainian delegation discussed the perspectives for cooperation in metallurgy and the high technology sector. Bahraini officials agreed to send a trade delegation to Ukraine later this year.

At his last stop, in the UAE capital of Abu-Dhabi, Mr. Kuchma continued to focus on economic interaction and trade development. The two sides agreed to develop projects in oil and gas transport, shipbuilding and the high technology sphere.

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