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Russia's military-technical cooperation with Africa aimed against terrorism — ministry

"The Russian side is acting strictly in accordance with international law, on the basis of relevant UNSC resolutions," the Russian Foreign Ministry said
Russian Foreign Ministry Valery Sharifulin/TASS
Russian Foreign Ministry
© Valery Sharifulin/TASS

MOSCOW, October 22. /TASS/. Russia's military-technical cooperation with African countries is primarily directed at settling regional conflicts and preventing the spread of a terrorist threat, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement released on Monday.

"Along with political, trade and economic, and humanitarian cooperation, Russia provides multifaceted assistance to its African partners in settling internal conflicts and fighting against the terrorist threat which has been massively spreading on the African continent after the notorious developments in Libya," the foreign ministry said. "We are using the available selection of methods: political and diplomatic methods, including our capabilities as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, as well as military-technical cooperation. At the same time, the Russian side is acting strictly in accordance with international law, on the basis of relevant UNSC resolutions," the ministry added.

In this regard, the Russian Foreign Ministry noted "the growing popularity of the International Military-Technical Forum and Internaitonal Army Games regularly held in Russia." "There are more and more participants in these events each year - both from African countries and other countries," the ministry said.

"Russia has programs of military-technical cooperation with several African countries and provides assistance in equipping their national armed forces with modern military equipment," the foreign ministry noted. "At the same time, special attention is paid to providing assistance in creating combat-ready units which could effectively fight against terrorist groups operating in many African regions. All of this is done on the basis of existing internaitonal norms and rules," the Russian Foreign Ministry concluded.