Israeli Prime Minister to meet Russian Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia on Tuesday

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who is now on a working visit in Moscow, will meet on Tuesday Chairman of the Russian government Mikhail Kasyanov.

Apart from that, Ariel Sharon is also expected to have a meeting with Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Igor Ivanov, which was earlier scheduled for Monday, and will meet Patriarch Alexiy II of Moscow and All Russia.

Moscow proceeds from the fact that the development of mutually advantageous contacts between Russia and Israel "meets the long-term interests of the two countries and is a factor which contributes to the strengthening of stability in the Middle East." Therefore, the Russian capital regards the strengthening of the contractual-legal basis of bilateral cooperation as "the main vector" of joint work.

As Russian President Vladimir Putin said the day before, during the negotiations with the Israeli Prime Minister, despite all the complications, the relations between Russia and Israel are developing positively. The level of trade between the two counties amounts to one billion dollars. Apart from that, believes the President, there are good prospects for cooperation in high technologies and in the military technological sphere.

RIA Novosti was told in the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade that cooperation between the two countries in creating an aviation long-range radar detection system was being considered.

For his part, the Israeli Prime Minister said that his country "regards Russia as a super-power," and pointed to the importance of developing and strengthening bilateral relations. According to him, the level of trade amounting to one billion dollars is not a limit, and this issue will be considered in November at a session of the Russian-Israeli economic commission.

Israel mainly imports from Russia precious stones, oil, rolled metal, sawn timber, automobiles, equipment, transport means and grain, and exports to Russia machinery, equipment, apparatus for telephone, telegraph and radio communication systems, medicines and agricultural products.

Later today, Ariel Sharon is expected to complete his visit to Russia and will leave Moscow.