Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, His Excellency Timothy Musa Kabba concluded a fruitful working visit with his Russian counterpart, His Excellency Sergey Lavrov, at the Russian Foreign Ministry Press Hall in Moscow.
The meeting highlighted the ongoing cooperation and mutual respect between the two nations, demonstrating a continued commitment to deepening bilateral relations.
Minister Kabba extended warm greetings from His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio to President Vladimir Putin, acknowledging his recent electoral victory and inauguration as President of the Russian Federation. He also expressed gratitude for Russia’s ongoing support to Sierra Leone, particularly in human capital development through education, noting that over 3,000 Sierra Leonean students have benefited from Russian training programs over the past six decades.
The Sierra Leonean diplomat underscored Sierra Leone’s focus on agriculture and energy as key sectors to drive the nation toward self-sufficiency and sustainable development. He emphasized the importance of leveraging domestic resources to foster economic growth.
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reciprocated with a warm acknowledgment of the longstanding friendship and trust that characterizes the relationship between Russia and Sierra Leone. He noted that Sierra Leone is one of Russia’s reliable partners in Africa and appreciated the country’s active participation in events aimed at strengthening ties between Russia and the African continent.
“Our relations have always been friendly, based on trust and strong historical ties. Sierra Leone is one of Russia’s reliable partners in Africa. We appreciate your active participation in the events designed to strengthen ties between our country and the African continent,” Minister Lavrov said.
Minister Lavrov also conveyed President Putin’s gratitude for President Bio’s congratulatory message on his re-election and for the condolences extended following the recent Crocus City Hall attack.
The meeting between the two ministers reflected the cordiality shared between the leadership of Sierra Leone and Russia during times of celebration and adversity.
Looking ahead, both ministers reaffirmed their shared commitment to enhancing cooperation in international forums to promote justice and democracy on the global stage.
Credit – Festus J. Lahai
Information Attache
Embassy of Sierra Leone-Moscow, Russian Federation
Copyright –Published in print in Expo Times Newspaper on Friday, May 10TH, 2024 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)