Special Correspondent
On May 7 Vladimir Putin was sworn in as President of Russia. This marks a new stage in our country’s life and history. Many political observers here and abroad ask themselves what consequences it does have for Russia as one of the major world

powers and for its international policy, especially towards Africa?
Continuity in the country’s policy is essential for Russia to keep moving forward. It is vital that we continue the major transformations we have pursued over these last years in economic, social and political life.

A lot has been done in the recent years to build a strong democratic country in which law and social justice rule, a country that guarantees its citizens’ security and gives its people every opportunity for self-realisation and for business, civil, and creative initiative.
This year we have the lowest inflation rate in modern Russian history — four percent in the past 12 months. The unemployment rate in the first quarter of this year is about 6,5 percent, which is what it was four years ago, before the start of the global economic crisis. We have also fully restored the pre-crisis level of production of goods and services, while the average growth rate of the Russian economy has stabilised at around 4 percent.

In foreign policy, Russia’s recent achievements include the signing of the New START treaty, a “reset” of the Russia — United States relations, as well as increasing Russia’s co-operation with the BRICS-countries and Russia’s admission into the WTO in 2011.
During the last three years BRICS have become firmly established in the international arena. At the heart of the association’s viability is the unity of the participating countries’ fundamental economic and political interests. The future BRICS agenda includes the forum’s gradual transformation into a strong and influential organisation.

As South Africa joined the club it gives a perfect opportunity for BRICS countries to further contribute to the socio-economic development in Africa both on bilateral and multilateral levels, especially in southern Africa and Zimbabwe in particular.
The next BRICS summit will be held in South Africa in 2013. That gives a unique chance for Brazil, Russia, India and China being hosted by South Africa to pay special attention to the African agenda.

Certainly, Russia is not a newcomer in Africa. Historically, we have been inseparably connected with many countries of the region. Our support was one of the determinant factors contributing to the victory of national liberation movements in Africa.
Not only did Russia never have colonies in Africa, but it made a vital contribution to decolonisation in various ways — from initiating the Declaration on Granting Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, which was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1960, to versatile assistance, including military, to the liberation

movements in Southern Africa, namely Zimbabwe.
Today we may effectively contribute to solving the region’s energy, transport, scientific, technological and environmental problems, and our partners are well aware of that. Regional military and political stability, collective efforts to counter international terrorism, emergency response co-operation, or dialogue between civilisations are unimaginable without Russia.

Russia has no hidden agendas in the region. Our state does not aim to forge covert military alliances that would threaten anyone’s security. On the contrary, we look forward to intensifying diversified multilateral economic and political co-operation with all the countries that show such willingness.
Co-operation for peace, stability and common prosperity is the key principle that determines the vector of our efforts in the African dimension.

Russia and Africa need each other. Most African countries and Russia are committed to the idea of a multi-polar world, and consider that the UN should play the central role in this multi-polar world. The states of the African continent constitute about a quarter of the members of the UN, while Russia is a permanent member of the UN Security Council, and the UN is an arena in which Russia and Africa collaborate fruitfully.

Today’s Russia welcomes the continent’s efforts to establish the foundations for collective security, including through creating its own peacekeeping capability. We also value greatly Africa’s consistent policy of intensifying political and economic integration through the African Union and other sub-regional groupings.
Indeed economic prosperity of Africa can not be delinked from political stability on the continent. The discussions held in Paris at the recent 18th meeting of the

Africa Partnership Forum proved once again that Russia and most African countries share a common view on that. We are certain that with Putin’s leadership the traditional Russia-Africa relationship will reach a new stage, with a re-engagement in multi-dimensional political dialogue. This now provides new impetus for building more diversified relations with the African countries and Zimbabwe in particular.
Source: Russian Embassy in Harare.