According to the Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council, Russian parliamentarians maintain active ties with African partners.
Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council Konstantin Kosachev had a meeting with a delegation of parliamentarians from African countries, led by Vice President of the Pan African Parliament Gayo Asherbiri.
According to the Deputy Speaker, these contacts are regular at the Russian Parliament’s upper house. “We actively maintain interparliamentary ties with African partners. In recent years, Russia’s interactions with representatives of African states have become more active at all levels. Two Russia-Africa summits have been held, as have intergovernmental meetings.”
Konstantin Kosachev expressed his firm belief that the parliamentary component of bilateral and multilateral ties plays a key role in contacts evolving into specific joint projects.
He elaborated on the work done by the Federation Council’s groups for cooperation with the parliaments of African countries. “Delegations from national parliaments of African states often visit us at the invitation of Russian parliamentarians. For our part, we also make many visits to Africa.” He noted that members of the Pan African Parliament showed significant interest in Russia.
Gayo Asherbiri spoke about the activities of the Pan African Parliament, noting that the PAP facilitates the establishment of ties with parliaments in African countries. He stressed that the interests of African countries and those of Russia are very much alike.
He shared the impressions from their trip to the Donetsk People’s Republic, conveying the understanding and support for the Russian Federation’s actions in the context of the Ukraine crisis on behalf of his delegation.
The meeting was attended by First Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs Vladimir Dzhabarov, First Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Constitutional Legislation and State Building Nikolay Vladimirov, Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Science, Education and Culture Lyudmila Skakovskaya, and Member of the Federation Council Committee on Federal Structure, Regional Policy, Local Government and Northern Affairs Alexander Voloshin.