Russian-Israeli economic ties discussed

In Tel Aviv, Israeli public organizations held a roundtable discussion on economic cooperation with Russia. The roundtable discussion coincides with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's trip to Russia on November 2.

Most participants in the discussion - Israeli economists, political scientists, public figures and journalists - support Russia's inclusion in the list of Israel's priority economic partners.

The participants in the discussion cited progress in the development of the two countries' economic ties, but stressed that there are many unused reserves. Deputy chairman of Knesset (parliament) Mikhail Nudelman said the absence of guarantees of investment activity security hampers the realization of these reserves. Israel's unique technologies in the fields of biology, communications and land-tenure can be successfully used in Russian regions, Nudelman said.