Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said yesterday on a visit to Ukraine that his country was looking at military purchases from this ex-Soviet republic, in particular anti-aircraft defences.

"We are studying closely the possibility of satisfying our needs from Ukraine. We have already had some demonstrations of the Ukrainian air-defence capabilities," Mahathir told a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma.

"We think we can win a lot from Ukraine in terms of defence," he added.

Kuchma for his part trumpeted Kiev's potential in aerial and aeronautic technology, as well as naval construction, tanks and radio-electronic equipment.

Reasonable prices

"We propose modern and reliable" equipment at reasonable prices, the Ukrainian president said.

Kuchma and Mahathir meanwhile said that the visa system between their two countries must be simplified to attract tourists and boost bilateral trade which increased to a still modest RM361 million.

In Ukraine since Sunday, the prime minister will visit the Ukrainian aircraft-maker Antonov and the southern Ukrainian cities of Odessa and Simferopol, before returning home on Wednesday. - AFP