Prime Minister: “We Are Determined To Diversify and Depen Cooperation Between the African Continent and the Russian Federation”
On 28 July, in Saint-Petersburg, Russia, the Prime Minister, Mr. Mohamed Bilal Messoud, made a speech before the participants in the second Russia-Africa Summit in which he affirmed that Mauritania is determined to diversify and deepen cooperation between the African continent and the Russian Federation.
He expressed the hope that the summit would contribute to developing a fruitful partnership between African countries and the Russian Federation, achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, and strengthening peace and security in the world. Here is the full text of the speech:
“- Excellency, Mr. Vladimir Putin, the President of the Russian Federation,
– Excellency, Mr. Azali Assoumani, the President of the Federal Republic of the Comoros, current Chairman of the African Union;
– Excellencies Ladies and Gentlemen, Heads of State and Government of Africa,
– Excellency Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, – Excellencies Ladies and gentlemen;
First of all, I would like to convey the sincere greetings of His Excellency Mr. Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, the President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, to his Excellency Mr. Vladimir Poutine, and to their Excellencies the African Heads of State and Government.
His Excellency, who expresses all his consideration and his greatest respect for you, would have liked to be with you today in this important assembly, but an extenuating circumstance prevented him.
I would also like to congratulate His Excellency Mr. President Vladimir Putin, the Russian government, and people for holding this summit and for the quality of its organization, while thanking them for their warm welcome and hospitality.
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen
The holding of this second session of the Russia-Africa Summit, in the light of the serious security, economic, and environmental crises that the world is going through, is proof of the strength of the relations between the Russian Federation and the countries of our African continent and the sincerity of our common desire to deepen them so that they serve the interests of both parties, thus contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and the strengthening of international peace and security.
The African continent is facing today, in its quest to achieve the objectives of Agenda 2063, major challenges aggravated by serious international health, security, economic, and environmental crises that have affected it, as well as by the spread of hotbeds of tension, armed conflicts, and the spread of violence and terrorism, particularly in the Sahel region.
Our States are aware that the effectiveness of the unification of their efforts and their means to settle disputes and silence the guns depends on their ability to build a global development renaissance.
The relationship between security and development is semi-organic. There will be no lasting victory over the phenomena of violence, terrorism, and extremism without the elimination of poverty, unemployment, ignorance, and bad governance.
Our States are aware that the effectiveness of their efforts to settle disputes and silence the voice of guns depends on their ability to build a global development renaissance. The relationship between security and development is semi-organic.
There will be no lasting victory over violence, terrorism and extremism without eliminating poverty, unemployment, ignorance and bad governance.
It is on this approach that the G-5 Sahel group was founded, of which our country now holds the rotating presidency and which, despite the difficulties it is encountering, continues to consolidate its achievements and take important measures to preserve security and stability and build comprehensive development in the Sahel region.
Today, safety is everyone’s responsibility. We cannot build lasting security on the account of the security of others. There can be no lasting security without the security of all. This is why we, in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, call, in the settlement of conflicts, for a peaceful solution, based on international law, taking into account the concerns and interests of all parties and establishing stability and lasting security. We call for such a step in Ukraine, Sudan, Yemen, and Libya, and in every armed conflict, wherever it occurs.
In this context, we reaffirm our commitment to a comprehensive and just solution to the Palestinian cause that guarantees the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with relevant international resolutions. Excellencies,
Relations between the Islamic Republic of Mauritania and the Russian Federation are long-standing relations of friendships and their cooperation is close, particularly in the areas of fisheries, higher education, scientific research, and Training. They are based on mutual respect and consideration of the common interest.
Like other African countries, we are determined to diversify and deepen cooperation between the African continent and the Russian Federation, this paves the way for Russian-Mauritanian bilateral cooperation, as well as it offers the African continent the opportunities to benefit major developments made by the Russian Federation in many areas.
I remain convinced that this summit will contribute to the development of a fruitful partnership between our African countries and the Russian Federation, on which will be based a solid constructive cooperation, serving our common interests, accelerating the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and strengthening peace and international security.