Lavrov to negotiate with Ugandan FM
MOSCOW. May 12 (Interfax) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Ugandan counterpart Sam Kutesa will discuss the development of Russia-Uganda contacts.
"During the May 12 negotiations the foreign ministers will highlight a broad range of issues regarding the current status and development of Russian-Ugandan interaction and will exchange opinions on pressing international, regional and African problems," the Russian Foreign Ministry information and press department said in a commentary posted on Saturday.
"Being an authoritative member of the international community and an active participant in a number of regional associations and organizations, Uganda plays a prominent role in the integration of East African states, peacekeeping and peace settlement processes in hotbeds on the African continent," the ministry indicated.
Russia maintains traditionally friendly relations and fruitful cooperation in various areas with Uganda, a long-standing and time-tested partner. The political dialogue has been developing successfully. Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni paid an official visit to Russia in December 2012.
"The positions of Russia and Uganda on key global policy issues, their approaches to the formation of a democratic system of international relations and the consolidation of the central role of the United Nations in global affairs with the preservation of the leading role of the UN Security Council are either close or identical," the commentary runs.
Uganda is a major trade partner of Russia in eastern Africa. There are good prerequisites for further development of bilateral trade and economic relations and interesting projects in such areas as construction, transport infrastructure and mining of hydrocarbons and other resources. Military-technological cooperation continues.
"Joint efforts in the development of the Uganda fuel and energy complex and the involvement of Russian economic operators in the fulfillment of plans and programs of the formation of the Ugandan oil and gas sector and electric power industry are a promising area," the Russian Foreign Ministry reported.
A number of joint projects are being successfully implemented or being prepared for launch on the Ugandan market. These include cotton processing, construction of oil refineries, home construction in regions and deliveries of Russian consumer goods to Uganda.
Russian education establishments are coaching Ugandan specialists. Moscow is confident that the Russian visit of the Ugandan foreign minister will deepen the bilateral political dialogue and give a fresh impetus to Russian-Ugandan regions in various regions.
The Ugandan foreign minister arrived in Russia on Sunday. The visit will last until May 13.
