At a joint press conference with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Guinea, Morissanda Kouyate, Lavrov said that he discussed economic cooperation, the work of Russian companies in Guinea, as well as interaction in the field of healthcare with his African counterpart and president of the country, Mamady Doumbouya, Sputnik reported.
According to him, the parties also discussed interaction on international platforms, in particular the UN.
In turn, both Kouyate and Doumbouya assured Lavrov that Guinea “remains friendly to Russia” and that the African leader “conveyed warm greetings to Russian President Vladimir Putin.”
The countries also raised the issue of economic interaction. The Russian top diplomat said that his country is counting on the speedy resumption of the work of the intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation with Guinea.
The Russian minister emphasized that a co-chairman of the commission had recently been appointed on the Guinean side, and there were no obstacles left to resuming work.
Moreover, Lavrov invited his Guinean counterpart to the ministerial conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum, scheduled to be held in November in the Russian resort of Sochi.
Located in West Africa, Guinea remains among the UN’s least developed countries despite its rich natural resources. Partnership in the field of their development still remains one of the main areas of bilateral cooperation.
Furthermore, the African foreign minister stressed that his country, after the change of power, remains committed to the obligations it assumed in bilateral relations with Russia and “adapts the continuation of agreements” with Russia so that they correspond to the new realities.
In September 2021, a military coup took place in Guinea, as a result of which Doumbouya announced the dissolution of the government and the abolition of the constitution.
The military detained President Alpha Conde and announced the introduction of a transitional charter, and Doumbouya was sworn in as transitional president. Elections are expected in 2024, which should restore a civilian form of government.
Moscow’s first reaction to the coup was to demand the release of Conde, but later the Russian authorities announced their intention to work with the established leadership.
Peoplesmind
