MOSCOW, February 01, 17:11 /ITAR-TASS/. Federation Council Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Mikhail Margelov, who is also Russian presidential special envoy for cooperation with African countries, met participants in the 22nd African Union summit in Addis Ababa on Saturday.
“The meetings focused on regional security, including the situation in South Sudan and Syria, and other international problems, and the development of bilateral relations,” Margelov told journalists.
“My talks with head of the U.S. delegation, Deputy Secretary of State William Burns touched upon the Syrian settlement. Burns recognised Russia’s key role in settling the crisis in Syria,” Margelov said.
African partners also riveted attention to the events in Ukraine, the legislator said. “They expressed disappointment with the recent statements by several European politicians and their attempts to offload the responsibility for the problems in the Ukrainian society on Russia,” he said.
On Russia’s presidency in the G8, Margelov said, “Africans believe that Russia’s presidency will promote the tasks of the Africa Partnership Forum.”
The Russian special envoy met the presidents of Mali and Sudan for talks on military-technical cooperation. “Both countries are ready to sign long-term contracts in this field - in the Russian currency,” he said.
The meeting with Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir focused on security of Russian diplomats and the development of the Port Sudan, Margelov said, adding that Sudan was ready to invite Russian companies to take part in the project on favourable terms.
“The Olympic Games in Sochi were also in the focus of discussions. All African delegations are convinced in their success,” Margelov said.