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Ghana signs a bilateral agreement with Russia
Accra, July 16, GNA - A protocol to establish a bilateral
consultation between Ghana and the Russian Federation was
signed in Moscow over the weekend.
The out-going Foreign Affairs Minister, Nana Akufo-Addo, who
led a government delegation, signed the protocol on behalf
of the government of Ghana while the Russian Foreign
Minister, Mr Sergey Lavrov, signed on behalf of the
government of the Russian Federation.
A statement signed by the Media Relations Officer of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Jefferson Kwamina Sackey
said by signing the protocol, the two countries had agreed
to establish a procedure for bilateral consultations at the
diplomatic level that would constitute a useful mechanism to
promote bilateral dialogue.
"These consultations will examine the bilateral relations
and other regional and international issues of mutual
interest to both countries as well international cooperation
in strengthening world peace and security and combating
terrorism," it said.
Nana Akufo-Addo, who became the first Ghanaian Foreign
Minister to pay an official visit to Russia, applauded
Russia's dedication to peacekeeping activities in Africa, as
well as in the areas of global energy, security and
development of a modern education system.
The statement observed that co-operation between Ghana and
Russia in the energy and mining sectors, with particular
emphasis on the construction of hydroelectric power plants
on designated rivers in Ghana, as well as collaboration in
the nuclear power industry, would greatly boost the existing
economic relations between the two countries.
According to the statement the out-going Foreign Minister
also called for greater Russian involvement in the affairs
of the continent and the African Union, having regard to the
principled support that the former Soviet Union gave to the
process of decolonisation and liberation of the African
continent.
On the Kosovo crisis, Nana Akufo-Addo said Ghana believed
that any solution to the Kosovo issue should emanate from a
European consensus on the matter, since it was essentially a
European security issue.
The Russian Foreign Minister, Mr Sergey Lavrov, applauded
Ghana's chairmanship of the African Union and her support
for an African Union peacekeeping force in Sudan's Dafur
region.
He recalled with appreciation the long-standing relations
between Russia and Ghana since the establishment of formal
diplomatic ties between them in January 1958 and observed
that Ghana, as a peace-loving nation, had had a contingent
under the UNMIK in Kosovo since June 1999.
He welcomed the call of Nana Akufo-Addo for greater Russian
involvement in Africa, which President Putin`s visit to
South Africa highlighted.
It said President Putin will be happy to receive President
John Agyekum Kufour on a visit to Russia as soon as
practicable.
GNA
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