The Prime Minister made it a rule to brief world leaders on current events in Israel and the Middle East, as well as to discuss bilateral issues. In this case it was the Russian Prime Minister who initiated the call and expressed the hope for marked improvement of Israel-Russia ties. Text:
Russian Prime Minister Victor Chernomyrdin telephoned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this afternoon, 04.11.96; the two men spoke for approximately 30 minutes.
Mr. Chernomyrdin said that he very much appreciates the change in atmosphere which has occurred in Russian-Israeli relations since the current government was established. He credited the warming of relations between the two countries to Prime Minister Netanyahu.
The Russian Prime Minister expressed his countrys desire to aid the peace process in the region and promote bilateral relations, including the supply of petroleum and gas from Russia to Israel. He said that the Russian Parliament is now discussing canceling the double taxation which currently exists between the two countries.
Prime Minister Netanyahu expressed his gratitude for Russias desire to help lessen the tension between Syria and Israel, and accepted Mr. Chernomyrdins invitation to visit Russia early next year.
Mr. Chernomyrdin passed on President Boris Yeltsins best wishes to Prime Minister Netanyahu, and added that President Yeltsin is very much interested in promoting Russian-Israeli relations.
Prime Minister Netanyahu extended his wishes for a speedy recovery for Mr. Yeltsin.