The second Russia-Africa summit to be held in St. Petersburg in July is a strategic choice and Moscow's long-term policy of returning to the continent, Russian President's Special Representative for the Middle East and African countries, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov told TASS.
"This is not a one-time event, it is a strategic choice, our long-term policy and practice under the slogan of Russia's return to Africa. Of course, after the collapse of the Soviet Union some things were lost, there was stagnation in our relations, a number of embassies were closed. Now we are actively working to reopen and restore the work of our embassies," he said.
Bogdanov also said Moscow is interested in resuming flights of Russian airlines to Africa. "This is important for socio-economic ties, humanitarian contacts. It is also important for tourism, because Africa is a very interesting continent: flora, fauna, history, people, culture and religion. Therefore, we wish we could move forward confidently and actively in these directions," the deputy foreign minister added.
Aid to African states
Speaking about the international aspect, the deputy minister noted that there are some African countries that are more dependent on the Western aid, but Russia is not imposing anything on anyone, because it proceeds from the sovereign equality of the UN member states. According to the deputy minister, Moscow's role is to help African countries in the UN Security Council and other UN structures, as well as on a bilateral basis. "We have in principle equal, good relations with all countries, with some, of course, they have an advanced character," Bogdanov added.
"We would like to wish our African friends, especially on Africa Day, to strengthen sovereignty and further development, so that this sovereignty is supported by economic opportunities, and they strengthen political sovereignty in accordance with their genuine national interests, rather than listening to some other voices," the deputy minister said.
"Everyone says that Africa is a continent of the future, the storehouse of the world, there are minerals there, resources that are very necessary for the development of the world economic system, where oil, where gas is, where precious metals and other products, such as uranium, which are necessary for the world economy and for interstate trade and economic relations. We also have to develop all that on a mutually beneficial and mutually respectful basis so that everyone benefits. That's how things work," concluded the deputy foreign minister.
About Africa Day
Africa Day is celebrated annually on May 25, the day on which the Organization of African Unity (now the African Union) was founded in 1963. Until 2002, when the organization was transformed, the day was called Africa Liberation Day. According to Bogdanov, Russia has historically had good relations with this structure. Its headquarters is located in Addis Ababa, and the Russian ambassador to Ethiopia is also the official representative of Russia to the African Union. He maintains contacts with the African Union Commission, the governing body of the organization.
GSV "Russia - Islamic world"
Photo: Russian Foreign Ministry
Based on materials from TASS