Oleh/By  	:	DATO SERI DR MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD
Tempat/Venue	:	KIEV, UKRAINE
Tarikh/Date	:	14/07/2003
Tajuk/Title 	:	THE OFFICIAL DINNER HOSTED BY 
			H.E. MR LEONID KUCHMA
			PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE
Versi 		:	ENGLISH
Penyampai	:  	PM
	    

        Thank you, Mr. President, for your warm words  of
   welcome.  I am indeed honoured to be here and  at  this
   gracious  occasion this evening. I am  truly  delighted
   that  I  have been able to undertake my first  official
   visit  to your beautiful country.  More so as I am  the
   first Malaysian Prime Minister ever to visit Ukraine.
   
   2.    On behalf of my wife, my delegation and on my own
   behalf, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to
   you,  Mr.  President, and Madam Kuchma, your Government
   and the People of Ukraine, for the warm hospitality and
   excellent   arrangements  accorded  to  us  since   our
   arrival.  We have been hugely impressed by the artistry
   of  your  fine  architecture and  the  wealth  of  your
   traditions and culture.
   
   3.     Ukraine  is  an  extraordinary  country.    Your
   strength  lies  in  your  extraordinary  people   whose
   skills,  talents and resourcefulness in fields such  as
   science,  medicine and aviation are the envy  of  many.
   Your  country  in  the decade of your independence  has
   been  a  symbol of courage, Ukraine can stand tall  and
   proud  as  you  have freed yourself from communism  and
   embraced a democratic free market system. The  path  to
   economic  development is never easy or smooth  but  you
   have endeavoured to introduce reforms.  Your economy is
   now   growing  and  your  determination  to  meet   the
   challenges  head-on  has  allowed  you  to  enjoy   the
   benefits of your forward looking policies.
   
   4.   My visit here today is a testament to the strength
   of   our  relationship  characterised  by  warmth   and
   friendship  since diplomatic ties were  established  in
   1991.
   
   5.    Our bilateral ties premised on mutual respect and
   understanding  has seen remarkable progress  since  the
   establishment  of your Embassy in Kuala  Lumpur.  Trade
   has  shown positive trends although I believe  that  we
   have yet to realise our full potential.  It is for this
   reason   that  I  included  a  significant  number   of
   businessmen in my delegation.  I hope that they will be
   able  to  use the opportunities provided through  their
   visit here to build personal relationships - so crucial
   to business success.
   
   6.    I  urge  Malaysian and Ukrainian  businessmen  to
   promote their respective companies and products through
   participation   in  trade  fairs  and  exhibitions   to
   exchange  ideas  through dialogue and seminars.   I  am
   particularly  hopeful  that  Ukraine  can   provide   a
   distribution  centre for Malaysian palm oil  and  other
   products.    Ukraine's  strategic   position   at   the
   crossroads  of Europe and Asia make that prospect  very
   attractive.
   
   7.    Through  Malaysia, Ukraine has a gateway  to  the
   other  ASEAN nations and by extension the rest of  East
   Asia.   Furthermore, with the realisation  of  AFTA  in
   2004,  a  market  of over 500 million is  open  to  you
   through Malaysia.  We are Ukraine's logical springboard
   for the region.
   
   8.    I am deeply grateful to Ukraine for opening their
   academic  doors  to Malaysian students.   There  are  a
   large  and  increasing  number  of  Malaysian  students
   pursuing  their  studies  in  varied  fields  such   as
   medicine and engineering.  The Crimea alone is home  to
   more  than  500  medical students.  Students  are  more
   often than not effective ambassadors.  They portray the
   rich  diversity  of  our multiracial,  multi  religious
   heritage  which is the strength of Malaysia.  Ukrainian
   students  too  are welcome to pursue their  studies  in
   Malaysia.   As  a centre for excellence,  Malaysia  can
   offer  interesting courses that can  help  bring  about
   greater  understanding  of our different  cultures  and
   religions and the common threads that bind us.
   
   9.    Allow  me  once again, to reiterate my  heartfelt
   thanks  to  you, Mr. President, for the hearty  welcome
   and  the  generous  hospitality extended  to  my  wife,
   members of my delegation and to me.

   Sumber : Pejabat Perdana Menteri