Burkina Faso: The members of the State Duma are rallying at the Prime Minister’s office, Dr. Apollinaire Joachimson Kyélem de Tambèla.
On Friday, July 14, 2023, in Ouagadougou, the Prime Minister, Dr. Apollinaire Joachimson Kyélem de Tambèla, received a delegation of deputies from the State Duma of the Russian Federation. The discussions focused on cooperation between the two countries.
The State Duma, or simply the Duma, is the legislative assembly of the Russian Federation.
Deputies from this assembly exchanged views with Prime Minister Dr. Apollinaire Joachimson Kyélem de Tambèla on diplomatic relations between Burkina Faso and Russia, particularly the areas in which each country can contribute to strengthening this cooperation.
«We exchanged many ideas on cooperation and strengthening relations between Burkina Faso and Russia. We discussed various sectors such as education, culture, and the economy», explained Natalia Krasovskaya, Adviser to the Vice-President of the State Duma, after the meeting.
The Russia-Africa Summit will take place in St. Petersburg, Russia, at the end of July, and the Adviser to the Vice-President of the State Duma expressed her expectation of a Burkinabe delegation attending.
« As a representative of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, I can say that we are planning for truly active and productive cooperation between our countries», Natalia Krasovskaya stated.
She emphasized that African countries, including Burkina Faso, hold great importance for Russia.
Therefore, she said that there is a display of African art and heritage in Russia and Moscow. That is why she added that in the coming months, there are plans for an African Film Festival.
«We are planning many other events such as exhibitions of African craftsmanship, conferences to highlight African culture», she supported.
During this meeting, the Prime Minister thanked his guests for their interest in Burkina Faso.
« In December 2022, I was in Moscow to strengthen our relations. This was to demonstrate the interest we have in Russia», emphasized the Head of Government, adding that before the dissolution of the USSR, there was the Soviet Cultural Center (SCC) and the Aeroflot airline serving Ouaga-Russia. This is to say that there were good relations that existed, and we want to strengthen our relations even more than before. In the current world, no country can disregard Russia because it is a great power that one can like or dislike, but one cannot ignore. We have chosen to strengthen our relations with progressive states. That is why I went to Russia, Venezuela. I am preparing to go to Nicaragua, and soon I will go to Iran», noted the Prime Minister.
While wishing for strengthened ties with Russia, he suggested intensifying cooperation in higher education, including student exchanges and strengthening cultural cooperation.
As a connoisseur of Russian culture, he expressed a deep attachment to Russia.
He then suggested several sectors where Russia could contribute to strengthening ties between the two countries.
« The country lacks infrastructure, and everything needs to be rebuilt. We produce phosphate, and Russia could help us transform it into fertilizer. We produce gold, livestock, cotton, and sesame. We have a project to construct a railway, and we are expecting Russia’s contribution in this area. Therefore, there is ample opportunity for a win-win partnership with Russia», he revealed.
The Head of Government continued, «we are also interested in the conservation and processing of our agricultural products and livestock. We produce a lot of tomatoes, onions, and potatoes that deteriorate due to a lack of preservation. So, we need to be able to preserve and process them. We have a lot of livestock, but we lack the means to preserve the meat. In terms of energy, we do not have sufficient electricity. In this area as well, whether it’s thermal, wind, solar, or photovoltaic energy, these are all areas where we can strengthen our ties. In the healthcare sector, the Chinese are currently building a major referral hospital in Bobo-Dioulasso. Why not a similar project with Russia?
In terms of banks, they are managed by a specific system. For example, we want the establishment of a Russian bank in Burkina Faso to facilitate monetary transfers between the two countries. We have areas where we can sign many agreements, and I hope that you will return to Moscow with plenty of ideas for strengthening our relations.
ince we believe that there will soon be a Russian embassy in Ouagadougou, our exchanges can be facilitated», concluded the Prime Minister.
Yannick H.
