The new ambassadors of Switzerland, Israel and Pakistan to Ukraine on Monday presented their credentials to President Victor Yushchenko, who then spoke with each of them about how to develop Ukraine’s ties with these states, according to the President`s press-office.
He told the Swiss ambassador Ukraine saw Switzerland as one of its major trading partners in Europe. “We welcome the growing presence of Swiss firms and companies on the Ukrainian market,” he said, adding that Switzerland was the sixth biggest investor in Ukraine’s economy and inviting Swiss President Micheline Calmy-Rey to visit Ukraine in 2007.
Yushchenko also said Ukraine hoped Switzerland would support a resolution to recognize its Soviet-era famine as genocide during the 63rd session of the United Nations General Assembly.
The Ukrainian leader told the Israeli ambassador he hoped Israel would back the resolution too. They also spoke about Yushchenko’s possible visit to Israel in 2007.
When meeting with the Pakistani ambassador, he said the two countries should develop political and economic relations, and described Pakistani Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri’s expected visit to Ukraine this year as “very important.”
