Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Russian President Congratulates Africa
The African Union meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
May 27, 2014
Moleen Machingura
Herald Reporter

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has congratulated the African continent on marking the 51st Africa Day celebrations that fell on Sunday.

Africa Day is marked on May 25 annually to honour the founding of the African Union, formerly the Organisation of African Unity, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in 1963.

In a statement on Sunday, President Putin said, “Please accept my sincere congratulations on the occasion of the Africa Day which marks the victory of the peoples on your continent in the fight for freedom and independence.

“African countries are confidently moving along the path of economic, social, scientific and technological development, playing a prominent role in addressing current issues on the global agenda.

“Russia appreciates and supports the efforts of the African Union and other regional integration associations of the continent aimed at resolving crises, peacemaking and post-conflict reconstruction, strengthening of multilateral co-operation, mutual trust and good-neighbourliness.”

President Putin said his country valued the efforts by the AU and other regional bodies in resolving international conflicts, and that Russia was ready to continue developing constructive ties with African countries aimed at rendering assistance to the continent. Africa Day is marked as a public holiday in only four countries — Zimbabwe, Angola, Ghana and Zambia — but is celebrated in various ways in other countries.

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