Russia is committed to offering substantial support to African countries as they work toward making the continent a unique and impactful hub for global development. This declaration came from Anatoly Antonov, the Russian Ambassador to the United States, during a Russia-Africa evening held at his residence near the White House. This event followed the second summit and the Russia-Africa economic and humanitarian forum, which took place from July 26 to 29 in St. Petersburg.
"During the celebrations in St. Petersburg, Russian President Vladimir Putin was fully engaged with the summit participants. He was with them from start to finish, balancing plenary sessions with numerous bilateral meetings. It's worth emphasizing that President Putin's proposals were concrete and well-defined. Essentially, Putin propelled the implementation of Russia's strategy in Africa. Our core concept is that Russia is committed to delivering practical assistance to Africa in its journey to shape the continent's countries into a unique and influential hub in global development," the ambassador stated.
Fostering practical assistance and promoting mutually beneficial cooperation
He mentioned that Moscow extended substantial support to African nations during the summit, encompassing "practical assistance in the realm of food security, such as the provision of Russian fertilizers, as well as assistance in energy and trade."
"We are dedicated to promoting mutually beneficial cooperation in education, culture, and media. Listing all the projects would take up far more time than we have this evening," Antonov remarked.
In this regard, the diplomat assured that Russia has no intentions of imposing "any models of political structure or economic development" or "values and norms" that are foreign to the "peoples of Africa."
"The outcomes of the summit in St. Petersburg have highlighted a new direction for the development of a more equitable and just global architecture. They have underscored Russia and Africa's commitment to realizing a multipolar world order through actions, not just words. Additionally, Russia's support for granting the African Union member status within the Group of Twenty reinforces this commitment. I am confident that together, we will achieve our desired results," the ambassador stated.
Fighting neocolonialism
Antonov noted that during the meetings in St. Petersburg, Putin "emphasized the importance of respecting and supporting the sovereignty of African countries."
"In essence, we are extending a helping hand to our partners in their struggle against the intricate neocolonial policies of developed countries," the ambassador explained.
"You and I share a successful history of combating colonialism during the time of the Soviet Union. You'll discover specific examples of Soviet assistance at the informational displays presented here. However, the complexities of modern neocolonialism have grown more intricate. Many African nations now feel the pressure of various forms of influence, such as financial and economic entanglements, along with efforts to impose neoliberal values that are foreign to African societies," the diplomat continued.
He referenced the words of Ghana's first President, Kwame Nkrumah: "A State in the grip of neocolonialism is not master of its own destiny. It is this factor which makes neocolonialism such a serious threat to world peace."
"This statement vividly underscores the significance of the African peoples' struggle for their sovereignty," Antonov emphasized.
He mentioned that earlier on Tuesday, Putin, during his speech at the Eastern Economic Forum, gave special recognition to the Russia-Africa summit. According to the ambassador, the Russian leader was genuinely struck by the receptiveness of African attendees and their readiness to collaborate with Russia. Putin emphasized that Moscow's objective is to assist the continent's nations in countering neocolonial policies.
"The summit has undoubtedly achieved significant successes," - the diplomat stated, - "but our adversaries persist in their efforts to tarnish Russia's endeavors in Africa and misrepresent the genuine noble intentions of the Russian people to bolster national sovereignty and enhance the socio-economic welfare of ordinary Africans."
According to Antonov's testimony, "opponents have gone to great lengths to disrupt the meeting between Russia and Africa's leaders." "So many falsehoods were spread about Russia!"
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Photo: Valery Sharifulin/TASS
Based on materials from TASS