Russia, Angola ForMins to discuss UNSC reform, Africa crisis settlement

MOSCOW, April 8 (Itar-Tass) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and visiting Angolan counterpart Georges Rebelo Chikoti will meet in the Russian capital on Tuesday to discuss a reform of the UN Security Council, settlement of crises in Africa and bilateral relations. The ministers will debate co-operation on international scene and will analyse progress of talks on several intergovernmental and interdepartmental agreements. Lavrov and Chikoti will talk key issues of world politics, particularly a reform of the United Nations Organisation and the UN Security Council, disarmament problems, modern challenges and threats and will focus on current situation in the Middle East and North Africa. “Talks will centre on problems of African continent, including settlement of crisis situations, peacekeeping and ensuring of sustainable socio-economic development of African countries,” the Russian foreign diplomatic agency noted. In the last few years trade and economic ties between Russia and Angola have been broadening, the number of joint projects has been growing. “Co-operation spreads on new spheres, including highly technological fields. Russian business circles show a growing interest in entering a sizable and promising market in Angola,” the Russian Foreign Ministry stated. The foreign ministers will discuss the scope of co-operation with a focus on promotion of new joint projects and practical implementation of current large-scale bilateral projects in energy, geological prospecting and mining, communications and telecommunications, new technologies, fisheries, education, banking and other spheres. Lavrov and Chikoti will sign a memorandum on mutual understanding and political consultations between the Foreign Ministries of the two countries. Moscow “values friendly relations with Angola which is our long-standing and reliable partner on African continent and praises highly the level of mutual understanding attained in current global and regional agenda,” the Russian Foreign Ministry noted. “We hope that a working visit of the Angolan foreign minister will promote further expansion of co-operation on international scene and will give a fresh impetus to development of bilateral co-operation in political, trade and economic, scientific-technical and other spheres,” the Russian ministry said. Learn more on itar-tass.com