– 20th Anniversary of Russia observed
The Russian Federation has acknowledged Guyana as a traditional friend and reliable partner in the Region, and President Bharrat Jagdeo said he is looking forward to a more rounded partnership with Russia.
These sentiments were expressed at the Russian Embassy where a ceremony was held Friday evening in observance of the 20th anniversary of “Day of Russia”. Among those present were Government Ministers and members of the diplomatic community.
June 11 is also designated the 65th anniversary of the Victory over Fascism.
Russian Ambassador to Guyana, Pavel Sergiev, spoke of the country taking the 6th position in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank list of biggest world economies, low debt rate among developed countries, and the largest gold and foreign currency reserves in the world.
Ambassador Sergiev highlighted Russia’s proactive role in world affairs with its foreign policy, strategic partnership in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Latin America, interactions with the Group of Eight, Group of Twenty and other multilateral organisations and associations.
President Jagdeo told the ambassador that these achievements have been recognised as a product of good leadership and hard work of the Russian people.
“We want to congratulate Russia not only for today’s activity, but also for the tremendous strides it has made at home and the significant help it has extended abroad. I think the entire world owes Russia and the people of that country a debt of gratitude.”
With climate change posing a major challenge to world economies, the Ambassador said Russia has played a key role in international efforts to reduce the anthropogenic load on the planet’s climate system and continues to work towards ascension to the most important multilateral environmental agreement.
At the recent United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Russia, led by its President Demitry Medvedev, took an active part in the preparations.
While on the climate change topic, Ambassador Sergiev congratulated President Jagdeo on his receipt of the Champion of the Earth Award, which, he said, is a well-deserved recognition of the President’s outstanding contribution to preservation of natural resources.
Reference was also made to President Jagdeo’s recent visit to Moscow and his high level meetings that gave impetus to Russia-Guyana bilateral relations in the sphere of political, economic, educational and cultural cooperation.
President Jagdeo said he was pleased with the friendship which Russia shares with Guyana, and the educational spin-off benefits which many in Guyana, including himself, have gained.
“Because of that support, many of them (Guyanese) are making significant contribution to national development today,” President Jagdeo said.
The Guyana-Russia relationship has also benefitted the economic sector, particularly in the bauxite industry, with the Russian Aluminum Company (RUSAL) which has expressed willingness to diversify activities in the country.
Ambassador Sergiev said several gold mining and energy companies have shown interest in Guyana.
“These positive trends give us confidence in the brighter future of Russia-Guyana friendly ties,” Ambassador Sergiev said.
Similar sentiments were shared by President Jagdeo who said that Guyana looks forward to RUSAL expanding its operations to venture into other sectors in Guyana’s economy.