High-Ranking Russian Diplomat Discloses Key Goals of Russia–Africa Summit
11:03 25.07.2023 (Updated: 14:34 25.07.2023)
© Sputnik . Ramil Sitdikov
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The Second Russia-Africa Summit and Economic Forum will be held on July 27-28 in St. Petersburg, with delegations from all African countries are invited to participate in the meeting. Spunik acts as an information partner of the event.
The leaders of Russia and African countries will adopt an overarching policy declaration, a joint action plan, as well as three sector documents, Russian ambassador-at-large and the head of the Russia-Africa partnership forum Oleg Ozerov told Sputnik.
"This will be an overarching policy declaration, a joint action plan, as well as three sector papers, which will concern the fight against terrorism, the non-deployment of weapons in space and international information security," Ozerov said.
The Russian Foreign Ministry expects that these document will become a platform for joint work with African countries on the creation of a new configuration of international relations, based on equality and a multipolar world rather than on a "unilateral dictatorship," the diplomat said.
Ozerov added that dozens of bilateral agreements are to be signed at the summit.
"A very large number of such documents is being prepared. There will be dozens of them. Every ministry and department is working on the adoption of these documents. We expect it to be a very substantial package of agreements," the diplomat noted.
Another goal of the summit, as Ozerov noted, is Moscow's proposal to Africa to address food security issues amid the expiration of the Black Sea Grain Initiative.
The aim of the discussion is for African countries to "leave St. Petersburg with a clear understanding of how these issues will be resolved," according to the diplomat.
Russia already provided help to some African countries earlier, including fertilizer shipments to such countries as Malawi and Kenya, Ozerov added.
The official went on to say that the upcoming summit will discuss the creation of logistical corridors for the supply of Russian grain and fertilizers to Africa, as the country has great opportunities in terms of grain exports.
"As I see it, the idea of such logistical corridors and the creation of grain hubs is promising and feasible, given the great opportunities that Russia has in terms of grain exports," Ozerov said.
The problems of organizing supplies from Russia to Africa are complex, he noted.
"We need to move in this very direction. This will be one of the topics of discussion — the creation of logistics corridors, hubs not only for food and fertilizers, but also for all other products that Russia produces. This is the natural and correct way to develop our relations on a long-term basis, with an eye to the future," the diplomat added.
Apart from that, Ozerov raised the issue of security saying that Russia has no military presence in Africa and the requests of some African countries are only for security assistance.
"Military presence is when the one is sending troops. We are not sending them. We are sending instructors at the request of African states," Ozerov pointed out.
On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that a weighty package of agreements and memorandums is being prepared for signing following the Russia-Africa summit.
