Kuchma meets with foreign officials in Davos

Second Ukrainian President (1995-2005) Leonid Kuchma held a number of meetings with foreign officials, leading economists, businessmen, and bankers during the World Economic Forum in Davos (Switzerland).

The press service of Leonid Kuchma's Ukraine Foundation said that during a meeting with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Kuchma shared his vision of the development and deepening of strategic partnership between Ukraine and Azerbaijan.

In turn, Aliyev thanked Kuchma for his contribution to strengthening friendship between Ukraine and Russia.

"They also said cordial words about [Third President of Azerbaijan] Heydar Aliyev, who is to mark his anniversary soon. The legal basis of cooperation was formed in the times when Leonid Kuchma and Heydar Aliyev led their countries, and top-level visits became regular then. All this contributed to a significant increase in trade between Ukraine and Azerbaijan," reads the statement.

Kuchma also met with Israeli President Shimon Peres and told him about his own vision of further development of relations between Ukraine and Israel on the basis of equality and mutual benefit. The Israeli president thanked Kuchma for his great contribution to the development of relations between the countries.

In turn, Kuchma stressed that many people of Ukrainian origin are citizens of Israel today and added that "it's a big potential for versatile cooperation in the spheres of economy, science, and culture."

Kuchma together with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and his deputy Arkady Dvorkovich participated in a roundtable discussion organized by the VTB Bank.