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'Russia is ready to cooperate with Africa' - Putin

By GNA
Russia 'Russia is ready to cooperate with Africa' - Putin
NOV 15, 2016 LISTEN

(From Kester Kenn Klomegah, Moscow Bureau Chief)
Moscow (Russia), Nov. 15, GNA - Russian President Vladimir Putin recently reiterated some aspects of Russia's foreign policy agenda with Africa when he received letters of credence from new ambassadors, including six from Africa, who had arrived in the country to begin their duty tour.

The six new African ambassadors are from Burundi, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Mali and Somalia. The credentials ceremony which formally marks the official beginning of the Ambassadors' duties in the Russian Federation, usually takes place twice a year. The previous ceremony was held on April 20. The ceremony.

While delivering his speech at the ceremony, President Putin said Russia was ready to restore cooperation that included developing investment and deepening trade, as well as increasing humanitarian assistance to African countries.

"I hope that your efforts to develop relations between the countries you represent and Russia will help to activate political dialogue, strengthen trade and economic ties, and expand humanitarian contacts," he stated.

With Burundi, Putin pointed out that Russia's relations with the Republic of Burundi had always been friendly and would be discussing several cooperative projects in the oil and gas sector and in mining. Russia also wished for an early restoration of internal political stability and national accord in Burundi, he added.

The President said Russia also sought to develop ties with the Federal Republic of Somalia, noting significantly the government's efforts to achieve national reconciliation and harmony and to rebuild the economy and social sectors.

"We support political dialogue with the Republic of Chad, all the more so as your country currently holds the African Union presidency. We look forward to President Idriss Deby's visit to Russia and are preparing for this occasion with concrete agreements in trade, the economy and humanitarian areas," the Russian leader told the Ambassador of the Republic of Chad, Mbatna Bandjang, at the ceremony.

He indicated that Russia had been cooperating with the Islamic Republic of the Gambia based on the principles of friendship and mutual respect, and as a result valued the Gambian partners' desire to expand bilateral ties in all different areas.

On Equitorial Guinea, President Putin said Russia had had excellent relationship with that country. "In developing our friendly relations with the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, we place great importance on cooperation on geological exploration, extraction and processing of hydrocarbons, including the development of offshore fields," he asserted.

With Mali, President Putin noted, 'We are developing partner relations with the Republic of Mali in the political, trade, economic, cultural and other areas. In June this year, Russia supported the UN Security Council resolution to extend the mandate of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali'.

Obviously, the Kremlin's long term goals include developing all-sided cooperation with African countries but those goals have run into pitfalls. Policy experts have suggested that Kremlin has to substantiate its African policy agenda with consistency, activeness and support, and enhance participation in the economic development of Africa. At the same time, Russia needs to look at simplifying access to its market for African countries.

Quite recently, President Putin said at the VTB Capital's Russia Calling Forum, that many countries had been "stepping up their activities on the African continent", but added that Russia could not cooperate with Africa "as it was in the Soviet period, for political reasons."

In his opinion, cooperation with African countries may be developed on a bilateral basis as well as on a multilateral basis, through the framework of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and the Republic of South Africa) in particular.

He noted further that the Russian authorities would support companies from that country aiming to work on the African continent. But so far, Russia has not publicly pledged any funds toward implementing its business projects and other policy objectives in Africa.

It is now known that China has offered $60 billion, Japan $32 billion, and India $25 billion, while some investment funds have also come from the United States and European Union, all towards Africa's development.

GNA

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