Ghana signs 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.