KIEV, Nov. 24 – President Viktor Yanukovych said that Israel is an important Middle Eastern partner for Ukraine.

"Israel is an important political, trade and economic partner of Ukraine in the Middle East," he said during extended talks with Israeli President Shimon Peres in Kiev on Wednesday.

Yanukovych said that Ukraine appreciated the dynamic development of its relations with Israel. In particular, he noted a significant intensification of bilateral cooperation in the political sphere and in the sphere of foreign economic relations since 2009.