Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will hold talks with Djibouti's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Mahamoud Ali Youssouf on Tuesday. The sides will discuss the strengthening of bilateral cooperation and the settlement of crisis situations in Africa.
Russia traditionally supports the strengthening of multi-faceted cooperation with African countries. As indicated in the Russian Foreign Ministry on the eve of the meeting, the ministers plan to discuss a number of practical aspects of the preparation of the second Russia-Africa summit, scheduled for 2022. Representatives of Djibouti actively participate in the events devoted to the cooperation between Russia and Africa.
Moscow is confident that the upcoming talks will bring bilateral cooperation, including interaction in the international arena, to a new level.
Main topics and future plans
Discussions of the regional and international agenda, including joint efforts to stabilize the situation in hot spots in Africa, particularly in the Horn of Africa, are expected to be one of the key topics at the talks.
The ministers also intend to identify specific areas for improving the bilateral legal and treaty framework.
In addition, on June 9, the Djibouti Foreign Minister will meet with the Rector of the Diplomatic Academy of the Russian Foreign Ministry Alexander Yakovenko, at which it is planned to sign a memorandum of understanding between the Diplomatic Academy and the Institute of Diplomatic Studies of the Djibouti Foreign Ministry.
Mutual intent to cooperate
According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, the foreign ministers will focus on the gradual increase of Russian-Djiboutian cooperation in various fields with an emphasis on the expansion of mutually beneficial trade, economic and investment relations, including the prospects for joint projects in Djibouti in the areas of energy, transport and logistics infrastructure and agriculture.
Humanitarian cooperation is also an important area of interaction between Russia and Djibouti. In 2020 it was decided to make a voluntary earmarked contribution of $2 million to the UN World Food Program to finance the costs associated with humanitarian aid to Djibouti. In addition, the Russian Emergencies Ministry together with the World Health Organization (WHO) last year implemented a joint project, under which medicines were sent to the republic and two field anti-cholera centers were equipped.
Djibouti, like many countries on the African continent, is experiencing difficulties with coronavirus infection, so Russia's assistance is also an important aspect of bilateral relations. On March 3, the republic registered the Russian vaccine Sputnik V, and on March 25 a ceremony was held to hand over the first batch of the drug.
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Photo: Russian Foreign Ministry
Based on materials from TASS