On January 23, Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov, who was in Pretoria on a visit, was received by the President of the Republic of South Africa S.Ramaphosa and held talks with the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa N.Pandora.
During the meetings and conversations, a range of issues related to further strengthening of the Russian-South African strategic partnership were thoroughly discussed. At the same time, the positive dynamics of mutually beneficial multifaceted cooperation was noted – the progressive growth of trade turnover, the intensification of parliamentary and inter-party contacts, the expansion of scientific and humanitarian ties.
It was noted that Moscow and Pretoria aimed at deepening political dialogue and strengthening coordination on topical international issues, including interaction within the UN and its specialized structures, as well as in the Group of Twenty. The need to adapt the UN to modern realities is emphasized, including the urgency of expanding the representation of African states in the UN Security Council.
Sergey Lavrov confidentially shared with the South African leadership Russian principled assessments and considerations in connection with the emerging geopolitical situation, including the situation in and around Ukraine, as well as the attempts undertaken by the United States and the “collective West” to draw African states into their anti-Russian policy.
In the context of the BRICS summit in South Africa scheduled for August 2023, general confidence was expressed that the upcoming Pretoria chairmanship in this association opens up new opportunities for its further development, in particular in terms of building up the partnership relations of the “five” with the countries of the African continent.
When discussing integration processes in Africa, the Russian side noted the significant contribution of South Africa to the strengthening of the African Union as the main regional organization. During the exchange of views on the state of affairs in a number of “hot spots” of the continent, the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry highly appreciated the mediation role of Pretoria in resolving the Tigray crisis in Ethiopia, the steps taken by South Africa within the framework of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to normalize the internal political situation in Lesotho and Eswatini, as well as its efforts to counter the terrorist threat in the north of Mozambique.
Particular attention was paid to the preparation for the second Russia-Africa summit in July 2023 in St. Petersburg, designed to determine the further vector of the complex progressive development of Russia’s multifaceted interaction with African states, ensuring its comprehensive and long-term nature.
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation
