AFRICA-RUSSIAN RELATIONS-THE NEED FOR REASESSMENT
By DR Albert Antwi Boasiako(Ghana),
Initiator, international forum on the status of refugees in the world
Africans are touched by the goodwill of many Russian citizens who
welcomed us into this country. Members of its government, statesmen and
political leaders of this great nation.welcomed us with wholehearted
allegiance. In many cases Russians have been receptive at the bilateral level.
Africa- Russia relations at the post –communist era differs from the relations
during the era of communism. If before 1991 relations with some African
countries were based on ideological factors today they are based on a
different architecture of international relations. Before the break up of the
Soviet Union trade relations with African countries did not engage the
attention of the Russian government. Even many Russian government
officials were still embedded in the traditional stereotypes and
misconceptions about Africa, even today the same tendencies continue in
some official circles. There are some policymakers in the Russian
government who still opine that Africa is a continent characterized with
diseases and ethnic conflicts and that trade relations with such a continent
cannot be on the agenda of priority. Children in schools were made to nurse
their own opinion about Africa. Children were given negative impressions
about Africa.
Looking at the other side of the relation it could be seen that Russia
portrayed an equitable relation of mutual understanding with African
governments. Continuos inflow of Africa and other students from the
developing countries and everything associated with it are further step
forward in consolidating and developing Africa-Russia relations. This is
based on the principles and norms which have been written down on our joint
documents and, and which are fundamental to our bilateral cooperation and
to our relations in the international arena. This has naturally attracted a lot of
interest in the African continent. There is the need for a coincidence of our
views concerning the meaning and goals of our bilateral relations. We must
refrain from taking any action that might harm the other sides interest. The
searchlight for mutual understanding should continue. This must be based on
the strict observance of the principles of international relations. Bilateral
relations between Africa countries should be preserved in accordance with
the legitimate and specific interests of the two parties. Africa and Russia
should expand their cooperation in trade, the economy, science and
technology because it is equally in the interests of both states and is
advantageous and useful to the two parties. In 1999 the Africa-Russian
economic forum came out with a lot of initiatives. Infact it was a good
beginning in Africa-Russian trade relations. The conference sowed the seed
for future progress in this perspective. Alexander Avanessov, then Deputy on
the UNDP/RBEC Regional Programme in Europe and the CIS said the UN
would continue to encourage such initiatives. The Deputy Chairman of the
Duma’s committee in charge of Economic Policy who chaired the two-day
conference admitted that it was about time Russia makes a direct contact with
the African market. He said most of the juice they are buying from the
market with European tags comes from Africa.Russia did not reject Africa
while civil and religious inspired wars dominated some parts of the continent.
Russia’s peacekeeping efforts in Africa cannot be unfolded. Russia sent
peacekeeping contingents to Sierra Leone. Russia played a pioneering role in
resolving regional conflicts in Africa. Russia played its role as a permanent
member of the UN Security Council in conflict resolution in the continent.
What I can say is that Russia has not used its multifaceted potential for
partnership with Africa. Africa has been dwarfed in Russian foreign policy. I
have been told that the last Soviet President who visited black Africa is
Leonard Breznev. It has become a problem for a Russia n President to land in
the black continent. It looks like Russia will be belittled if the President
should visit a place like Uganda, Sierra Leone, and Senegal etcetc. The
question is had any world leader visited these countries? We don’t know
when Russia President will visit Africa but I am optimistic that very soon it
will happen. In fact it is in the interest of Russia’s President to visit Africa.
We need to break that barrier; we need a relationship of mutual enrichment.
This is not to say that Africa has not got her problems in building up this
relation. Africans must be optimistic in their bilateral relations with Russia.
We must also try to break from the old tradition of thinking that nothing can
work out in Russia. Some Africans are lead to think that it is only possible
with the west. African s must explore all the avenues for an active economic
diplomacy in the Russian Federation and the CIS. Rome was not built in a
day; there is the need for persistent efforts in this direction. Long live Africa
Russia relations.
