– President Ramotar
RUSSIA’S representation at important international forums, such as the G8 and G20, can serve as an intermediary for small countries that have been pressing for reforms and restructuring of the international financial system, strengthening financial regulations, combating commodity price volatility, addressing food and nutrition security, and renewed access to concessionary financing for highly indebted middle income countries.
This was highlighted by President Donald Ramotar to Russian Ambassador to Guyana, Nikolay Smirnov at a reception Monday evening at the Russian Embassy to mark Russia’s National Day.
With sustainable development at the forefront of Guyana’s path, President Ramotar called on Russia to join the bandwagon, especially as the country prepares to highlight its Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) and its REDD + Partnership with the Government of Norway at the upcoming United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (Rio +20) in Brazil later this month.
Ambassador Smirnov said Russia supports Guyana’s position on climate change and concurred with the need for cooperation during the upcoming RIO + 20 summit in neighbouring Brazil, during the period June 20 to 22.
Green economy, in the context of sustainable development, is central to the upcoming summit as President Ramotar had told delegates of the II Caricom-Mexico Summit in May. Then he said that a green economy framework can play a critical role in rehabilitating the economies of CARICOM member states which continue to be negatively affected by the 2008-2009 global financial and economic crises.
Guyana’s LCDS places the country’s forest at the centre of transitioning the economy onto a low carbon path, where funds received through a forest climate services arrangement will be invested in hydropower, Amerindian land titling, fibre optic cable laying, and the establishment of an international centre for biodiversity research.
The two countries have spoken with one voice at the multilateral level on issues vital to peace, security and sustainable development, and at the bilateral level, have collaborated in various fields.

Scholarships
Ambassador Smirnov said Russia is ready to continue offering scholarships for Guyanese to study in some of its prestigious universities to supplement the number of beneficiaries who will this year be returning as trained doctors and economists.
President Ramotar was heartened to hear about scholarships being offered to persons from Aroaima, in the Berbice River, where the Russian bauxite company, RUSAL, has a mining operation.
Russia’s recent decision to write-off more than $50M of Guyana’s bilateral debt was also acknowledged by President Ramotar, who believes such benevolence will allow the Guyana Government to channel much needed resources to the development of programmes in the social sector that will afford a better quality of life for citizens.
“This action by Russia demonstrates its recognition of the special vulnerabilities developing countries such as ours face,” President Ramotar said.
Russia Day signifies the history of a democratic state built on civil liberties and the rule of law.
The occasion was highlighted by President Ramotar and Ambassador Smirnov toasting to the good relations between the two countries.
This year Russia and Guyana will celebrate 42 years of diplomatic relations. (GINA)