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Gaddafi is dead, but African Union carries on - Margelov

Margelov said that Russia had close ties with that organization
Photo ITAR-TASS
Photo ITAR-TASS

MOSCOW, May 25 (Itar-Tass) - The overthrow of Libya’s leader Muamar Gaddafi has caused no adverse effects on the activity of the African Union, Russia’s presidential envoy for cooperation with African countries, Mikhail Margelov, said on Friday.

He recalled that Gaddafi, overthrown as a result of a tide of unrest in North Africa, had been a prominent and active figure in the African Union.

“Gaddafi is no more, but the pan-African idea is still alive. The African Union has not plunged into a crisis, contrary to many forecasts, and it keeps dealing successfully with Africa’s internal and external problems,” Margelov said.

According to the special envoy, the African Union is expanding the sphere of its activity. For the settlement of crises a special rapid deployment force will be created.

“In cooperation with the United Nations it will ease the conflict potential in Africa, which hinders modernization and keeps claiming civilian lives,” he said.

Margelov said that Russia had close ties with that organization.

“The African Union hails the resumption of our mutually beneficial economic relations with the African countries and contributes to building such relations,” Margelov said.