​PM Netanyahu's Remarks at the start of his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin

(Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser)
 
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, today (Thursday, 21 April 2016), made the following remarks at the start of his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin:
 
"Mr. President, thank you very much. I very much appreciate both your heartfelt hospitality and the ongoing connection between us. I came here with one main goal – to strengthen the security coordination between us so as to avoid mishaps, misunderstandings and unnecessary confrontations.
 
At our previous meetings, I presented you with our security policy on our northern border. Israel has clear redlines for purposes of self-defense. First, we are working to the best of our ability to prevent the transfer of advanced weaponry from Iran and Syria to Hezbollah in Lebanon. Second, we are working to prevent the establishment of an additional terror front against us on the Golan Heights. These are red lines and we will continue to maintain hem.
 
Regarding the Golan Heights, we will not go back to the days when they fired at our communities and at our children from atop the Heights. Therefore, with or without an agreement, the Golan Heights will remain under Israeli sovereignty.
 
This visit is also an opportunity to discuss bilateral issues in the context of relations that are – as you noted – celebrating 25 years. I would like to thank you personally for the effort that you have made to advance an especially important issue, the pensions agreement that is currently being formulated, and, I hope, is on its way toward being signed. This is of the highest humanitarian importance.
 
I would also like to thank you for your Passover greetings. This is our festival of freedom during which every Jewish family sits around the Seder table, including the over one million Russian-speaking Israelis who are a living link between our two peoples. I would also like to wish the Russian Jewish community, as well as all Jews around the world, a Happy Passover.
 
I would like to thank you again for your friendship which is very important for the interests of both our peoples."

PM Netanyahu's remarks following his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin

(Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, today (Thursday, 21 April 2016), made the following remarks following his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin:

"I am coming now from a very important and successful meeting with President Putin. I defined the goal as strengthening security coordination between Russia and Israel so as to avoid mishaps. During the meeting, it was agreed that GOC Air Force Maj.-Gen. Amir Eshel and my Military Secretary, Brig.-Gen. Eliezer Toledano, will hold a special meeting with the Russian Defense Minister and several other generals. They will meet and discuss – in a detailed and efficient manner – the coordination between our militaries and several other issues that have recently arisen. I think that this is vital because we must maintain freedom of action for the IDF and the air force in places that are important to us vis-à-vis our security, and I think that this was achieved.

"The second thing that was agreed at the meeting is the issue of pensions, which is a very painful and important issue for tens of thousands of Israelis who have no pensions. We agreed that this issue will be finally signed during my visit here to Moscow on June 7, when we mark 25 years of relations between our two countries. I think that these are two important achievements – one security and one social – and are a good gift for Passover. I am very pleased that I was able to rectify the pensions issue, and of course continue dealing with ongoing and important matters for Israel's security."