Oleg Ozerov, Deputy Director of the Africa Department of the Russian foreign Ministry, was appointed Ambassador – at-large and head of the Secretariat of the Russia-Africa partnership Forum, Russian MFA reports.
"On May 18, Deputy Director of the Department of Africa at the Russian Foreign Ministry Oleg Ozerov was appointed Ambassador-at-Large and Head of the Secretariat of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum. The Forum’s secretariat will be preparing for the second Russia-Africa Summit due in 2022, as per the agreements reached at the first ever Russia-Africa Summit held in Sochi on October 23 and 24 last year," the message reads in particular.
The forum secretariat will also be responsible for organising annual political consultations for the foreign ministers of Russia and three member countries of the African Union (the country holding the chairmanship of the union, the one before it and the one that will succeed it).
"Oleg Ozerov is a diplomat with extensive experience at the Foreign Ministry, including with Arab and African countries. In 2010-2017, he was Ambassador to Saudi Arabia and in 2011-2017, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation," the message of MFA stressed.
The Russia - Africa summit co-chaired by Russian and Egyptian presidents Vladimir Putin and Abdel Fattah el-Sisi was held in Sochi on October 23 and 24, 2019. It was attended by representatives of all 54 countries of the continent, 43 of them were represented at the highest level. The event was also attended by eight major African integration associations and organizations.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Gabriel Grigorov / TASS