Official website of the President of Russia

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The message reads, in particular:

“During the last few years African countries are taking an increasingly active role in universal political, economic and humanitarian issues, as well as within the United Nations and other international organizations. We note with satisfaction that integration is progressing on the continent, that the African Union is maturing both politically and as an organization, and that the programme The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) is also becoming an important element.

I would like to emphasize that Russia consistently supports increasing the efficiency of international aid to Africa and combining external support with effective measures taken by Africans themselves. As the country that holds the G8 presidency this year, we are making all efforts to ensure continuity in the G8’s activities with respect to Africa. I am convinced that the priority themes of the St Petersburg summit – energy security, the struggle against infectious diseases, education – are completely in line with the interests of the African peoples. We also consider that the African Partnership Forum that will take in place in Moscow in October 2006 will constitute a major event in developing further approaches to providing assistance to the continent

In the future Russia will continue to do everything necessary for developing historically friendly relations and mutually advantageous cooperation with African states in various areas, both on bilateral and multilateral levels”.