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Lavrov says Russia can help African states ensure their national security

According to Lavrov, African states are interested in Russia's participation in training their professional personnel

MOSCOW, April 4. /TASS/. Russia has something to offer African states, including in terms of ensuring their national security, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with aif.ru posted on the Foreign Ministry’s website on Tuesday.

"Of course, we have things to offer our African friends, including in terms of ensuring their national security and meeting their needs in the humanitarian sphere," the foreign minister said.

According to Lavrov, African states are interested in Russia's participation in training their professional personnel. "We traditionally have a strong position here: Soviet and Russian higher education has been in great demand among several generations of Africans," he said. "This is only the tip of the iceberg for multifaceted and mutually advantageous cooperation between Russia and Africa, which we intend to develop in every possible way," the top diplomat added.

Lavrov said the main difference between Russia and the West is that Russia never preaches to its foreign partners about how to live. "We have no hidden agenda. We do not apply ‘double standards’. We build our interstate cooperation on the principles of international law, equality, mutual respect and consideration for interests," the top diplomat added. "It appears that this creative approach appeals to Africans. And not only Africans. It appeals to all normal countries," he stressed.

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Foreign policy Sergey Lavrov

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