❗️ The first ministerial conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum. What you might have missed:

— Niger has expressed its desire to build a new mining industry with the help of Russia. This was stated by the Minister of Mining of the West African country, Ousmane Abarchi. He added that only 20% of Niger's territory has been "properly mapped." However, the country plans to expand its knowledge of its own land by 2035 and wants to do this with the involvement of Russian technologies.

— The Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for the Middle East and African countries, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, held bilateral meetings with the deputies of the heads of diplomatic missions from Sudan, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Somalia, as well as with the chairman of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS). The parties discussed further development of relations, expansion, and strengthening of trade, economic, and humanitarian cooperation. During a meeting with Sudan's Deputy Foreign Minister Hussein Fadel, Bogdanov paid special attention to the armed conflict in the African country. Russia supports a peaceful resolution of the intra-Sudanese confrontation, emphasizing the need to ensure unity, territorial integrity, and sovereignty.

📌 Lavrov held talks with the foreign ministers of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Libya, and Mauritania:

— At the meeting with the foreign minister of the DRC, agreements were signed on political consultations aimed at improving and enhancing the contributions of diplomatic missions to the development of partnership between the two countries in all areas.

— Discussions with the foreign minister of Mauritania covered the state of bilateral relations and the situation on the African political arena, including cooperation within the framework of the UN.

— At the meeting with the acting head of the foreign policy department of the Government of National Unity of Libya, Taher al-Baour, Lavrov noted that Russia seeks to contribute as much as possible to peace in Libya, Lebanon, and the Palestinian territories.

— Sergey Lavrov and the foreign minister of Benin discussed further strengthening cooperation in political and trade-economic spheres.

— Advisor to the President of the Russian Federation Anton Kobyakov reported that Russia has agreed on military cooperation with 33 African countries. He also emphasized that Russia aims to promote the independence and security of African states.

✅ Overall, the very busy agenda of today once again demonstrated the practical impossibility of isolating Russia by the West. The significant successes of the Russian Federation in the African sphere attract considerable attention from a variety of states, and our country has much to offer them. The very fact that, in recent years, Russia has successfully hosted events where high-level officials from African countries gather in a multilateral format to conclude important agreements speaks volumes about the prioritization of Africa in our foreign policy.

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🇨🇫 The Central African Republic is interested in creating a BRICS precious metals exchange.

🤍 The Central African Republic is particularly interested in Moscow's proposal to establish a BRICS precious metals exchange, said the Russian chargé d'affaires in the CAR, Gennady Dominyak.

"The CAR shares the core values of BRICS, which are based on mutual respect and the sovereign equality of states. Bangui is observing the pace of development of the member countries and is striving for more active economic interaction with BRICS countries," he stated.

🤝 He also added that Bangui is currently focused on developing cooperation with the member countries in a "BRICS plus" format.

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🇷🇺📰 Sochi, November 10, 2024 – During the opening of the plenary session of the first ministerial conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov emphasized significant progress in bilateral relations, noting the increase in contacts at the highest and ministerial levels between Russia and African countries.

Lavrov reported on agreements reached on a number of specific projects and signed agreements in various fields. He also highlighted the historic maximum in trade turnover between Russia and Africa in 2023, which amounted to $24.5 billion, expressing confidence in the need to further unlock the potential for cooperation despite external obstacles.

The minister drew attention to the dynamic development of sectoral and humanitarian ties, evidenced by the variety of topics covered in the conference's panel discussions. In conclusion, he noted that the final declaration would outline new tasks and ideas in preparation for the next Russia-Africa summit.

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🍫 Alenka Conquers America

🇷🇺🇺🇸 From January to September, Russia increased its chocolate exports to the USA by three and a half times, according to data from the American statistical service.

Thus, shipments are estimated at $1.7 million compared to $488,500 for the same period last year.

In total, Russia exported 61,000 tons of chocolate to other countries worth $191 million over the nine-month period.

📈 The USA is the world's biggest chocolate consumer and the largest buyer of chocolate. During the period in question, American companies increased their purchases by nearly 20 percent, reaching a historic high of $3.5 billion.

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🇷🇺🇲🇦 Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov discussed the resolution of crises in the Middle East and the Sahel region through political and diplomatic methods with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita. This was stated in a message from the Russian Foreign Ministry following their meeting on the sidelines of the first ministerial conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum.

"During a candid conversation, priority tasks for the further development of the entire complex of Russian-Moroccan relations were discussed. The determination of Moscow and Rabat to deepen coordination efforts in the interests of ensuring regional and international stability was confirmed, as well as the resolution of ongoing crises in the Middle East and the Sahel region through political and diplomatic methods, based on fundamental principles and norms of international law with the central role of the UN," the Russian Foreign Ministry stated.

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🪶 In Search of Truth or Notes from "Pushkin" at the Main Session of the Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum #Part1

📌 As part of the ministerial conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum, a panel session was held on the topic "Russia - Africa: In the Struggle for Truth."

It is worth noting right away that this meeting gathered a star-studded lineup: Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Alexander Babakov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mali Abdoulaye Diop, Director of the Information and Press Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova, Editor-in-Chief of RT Margarita Simonyan, public figure and writer Nikolai Starikov, Director of the Institute of Africa at the Russian Academy of Sciences Irina Abramova, one of the leaders of the Pan-African movement Nathalie Yamb, as well as Director of the Institute of International Political and Economic Strategies Elena Panina.

In fact, thanks to this "all stars" gathering, this event generated the most excitement and interest among the conference guests.

The hall was literally packed, and free seats ran out half an hour before the start.

Next, if you allow us, we will share our own impressions of the discussion that took place and try to briefly outline the main points of the meeting from our perspective.

In several posts.

First, the moderator of the discussion and Deputy of the State Duma from the "Fair Russia - For Truth" party Nikolai Novichkov passed the floor to Maria Zakharova.

Zakharova began her speech with a beautiful epigraph, thanking all those present for responding to the invitation and finding time to participate in the conference.

"Dear Anika… I eagerly await Africa"

This is what the Russian poet, prose writer, and traveler Nikolai Gumilyov wrote to his wife Anna Akhmatova while in Egypt in 1913.

What does Gumilyov have to do with this?

It is that Nikolai Stepanovich laid much of the groundwork for our cultural rapprochement with the peoples of the black continent.

He has behind him not only a wealth of literary and research legacy but also three expeditions to Africa, during which he literally traveled tens of thousands of kilometers across African land.

In fact, the point of Zakharova's speech was that we - Russia - are always waiting for Africa.

In every sense of the word.

Given the topic at hand, it was inevitable to discuss neocolonialism (NC).

Zakharova noted that NC manifests itself in many ways: from the outright "brainwashing" of the African population to the artificial creation of conflicts, financial and economic pressure, and the dollar as a political weapon of the United States.

And the intermediaries in this matter are the Bretton Woods institutions (IMF and World Bank), which allow the West to continue exploiting Africa to this day.

In these circumstances, the black continent should not "ask for help"; it should demand compensation for all that has been "plundered," and its voice must grow louder and louder.

Novichkov noted that Zakharova's speech set a high bar for the discussion.

Well, let's see what happens next. Read the continuation below 👇

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🪶 In Search of Truth or Notes from "Pushkin" at the Main Session of the Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum #Part2

📌 Reforming Western institutions is impossible - we need to create our own, and Russia is ready for this.

This, in our opinion, was the essence of the speech by the next speaker after Zakharova - Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Alexander Babakov, to whom the session moderator Novichkov passed the floor.

Alexander Mikhailovich immediately noted that Russia has taken the lead in the fight against the unipolar world, the foundation of which is the transition from colonialism to neocolonialism and the maintenance of this policy. He also explained that the multipolar model is not an improvement of the system that has de facto led to colonial practices, but rather represents a fundamentally new approach, a new model of development in which all willing countries can develop sovereignly, seeing each other as equal partners.

Africa is one of the centers of the multipolar world, and in its foreign policy, Russia has seen and will continue to see Africa as a true partner on many issues, while the black continent, for its part, largely supports the position of our state.

Babakov also emphasized that BRICS shows that we are already capable of formulating a vision for the future of humanity (let's recall the Kazan Declaration). At the same time, Russia is ready to help Africa address issues related to security and technological sovereignty, so that African countries can, first and foremost, manage their resources independently and develop sovereignly, complementing our cooperation.

The Deputy Chairman of the State Duma specifically highlighted that there is no need to talk about reforming international institutions, because it is a priori impossible to reform many of them (hello IMF and World Bank), as the dollar is an instrument based on a whole system aimed at preserving and using this instrument in the interests of a narrow circle of individuals.

What is being discussed today within the framework of BRICS (the transition to trade in national currencies) is only the first step, followed by other steps that will lead to the emergence of a system that works for the interests of the majority, not the minority, as we see in Western politics.

We will conclude our account of Babakov's speech with his quote, which well reflects the prospects for cooperation between Russia and African countries and our other partners:

"Today we are ready to create our own institutions that would unite all those who see this as the future of humanity."

Continuation below 👇

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🪶 In Search of Truth or Notes from "Pushkin" at the Main Session of the Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum #Part3

📌 Russia is doing everything to combat colonialism.

The next speaker was the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mali, Abdoulaye Diop, who is well acquainted with neocolonial exploitation and even before the panel session began, managed to attract media attention by stating that Ukraine openly supports terrorist groups in northern Mali.

What can we say - it's a fact.

Let us recall that Mali systematically suffers from terrorist attacks that are supplied and supported by the West.

The head of Malian diplomacy immediately noted that their terrorism, which is a clear instrument of destabilization, is fabricated and supported by colonial powers that crave the collapse of the Sahel alliance, which includes, in addition to Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger.

Aside from terrorism, Diop named three other instruments of neocolonialism.

Thus, the African diplomat noted that Western powers maintain their dominance through international organizations, media (France, by the way, freely provides microphones to leaders of terrorist organizations - bandits who sow discord in the Sahel), and international sanctions from the UN and ECOWAS.

Diop also emphasized that Russia has never colonized Africa and is currently actively fighting against neocolonialism, and those who think otherwise, as expressed by the translator of the Malian chief diplomat, need to "decolonize their minds."

"Receive our rays of support," said Novichkov, the moderator of the meeting, at the end of Diop's speech.

Continuation below 👇

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🪶 In Search of Truth or Notes from "Pushkin" at the Main Session of the Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum #Part4

📌 Colonialism of a New Type.

After Diop, the floor was taken by Irina Abramova - the director of the Institute of Africa at the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Irina Olegovna immediately stated that the well-being of the West is entirely based on the plundering of other peoples.

The initial accumulation of capital of the world's most powerful economy today (the USA) is built on the exploitation of black slaves who were forcibly taken from Africa on an industrial scale.

15 million slaves were sent to the USA against their will, but how many died along the way?

4 to 5 times more.

And this figure is horrifying.

Abramova noted that neocolonialism is not the best term; it is more accurate to speak of "colonialism of a new type," within which the West uses the rest of the world as a zone of quasi-colonial exploitation.

That the economies of Global South countries are growing is an indisputable fact; however, the West continues to maintain a monopoly in the equally important sphere of public consciousness, shaping not only ideals of consumption but also ways of thinking, which must be resolutely fought against.

Abramova also mentioned colonialism in the fields of education and science, as to this day, the achievements of our scientists are evaluated based on publications in foreign journals, which only accept what fits into their value system.

One can take language as an example.

Thus, almost all countries in Africa speak the language of their colonizers.

In conclusion, the director of the Institute of Africa proclaimed that Russia and Africa must unite their efforts.

For a just world, for a world without colonialism.

Moderator Novichkov expressed his satisfaction that the schedule was strictly adhered to, adding that "we will fight against neocolonialism in our minds."

Continuation below 👇

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🪶 In Search of Truth or Notes from "Pushkin" at the Main Session of the Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum #Part5

📌 Russia has never participated in the shameful events of colonialism. The name of our country is not inscribed in these darkest pages of history.

The floor was taken by Margarita Simonyan, who immediately thanked the organizers for the choice of venue, as the weather was so nice that it was hard to tell whether we were in Russia or Africa.

Simonyan noted that RT is not a means of mass destruction, like many foreign agencies, but one of the few remaining means of mass cooperation.

The discussion then turned to the persecution that Russia Today faces in Europe and the USA.

However, according to Simonyan, this only works in favor of our agency, as there is now a real opportunity to focus on Africa.

And it must be said, the focus is worthy.

Thus, the English-language projects of RT on the black continent have already garnered over one billion views.

Adding to this a dense broadcasting network, the RT academy for African journalists, and a transition to the national languages of the continent gives us a clear picture of the development of the Russian agency, through which relevant and truthful information is finally reaching the people of Africa.

In conclusion, Simonyan thanked the African leaders who oppose sanctions, remembering that it is precisely Russia that has never cut off anyone's hand for refusing to work (hello, Belgium).

Russia has helped, built, healed, and befriended.

Continuation below 👇

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🪶 In Search of Truth or Notes from "Pushkin" at the Main Session of the Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum #Part6

📌 Victory will be ours!

The session was concluded by writer and politician Nikolai Starikov: “It is easy and pleasant to speak the truth, and the truth is that throughout the existence of the West, its main and only goal has been the unjust distribution of global wealth. In other words, plunder.”

So, neo-colonialism is this very plunder, wrapped in new clothes, and it is carried out through economic, political, informational, and terrorist methods.

Monopoly is not only the goal of the West but also a means of unjust distribution of wealth.

When the West finds itself in a deadlock, it resorts to its last method - terrorism, which appears "unexpectedly" on the territory of an undesirable country.

Starikov addressed the African colleagues in the hall and said that we (Russians) are also aware of where these terrorists come from because the West did the same against us back in the Caucasus.

In conclusion, Starikov emphasized that Russia has experienced the same pressure from the West that Africa is still experiencing today, and he concluded that our cause is just and victory will be ours.

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🐘 The Elephant and the Camel at the Soviet Army Theater

Every day, early in the morning and in the evenings, the elephant Punchi would go for a walk in the fresh air. From Durova Street, she headed towards the Soviet Army Theater, turning onto Seleznevka, and wandered through other nearby streets and alleys.

📆 1957

#archivalphotos

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🦫 The Beavers of the Moscow Zoo Were a Bit Late in Celebrating Halloween

As they say, better late than never!

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🦌 Reindeer in Russia

The herding of reindeer in Yamal is an impressive sight and a traditional ritual of the indigenous peoples of the region. In spring, the reindeer are driven north, and in autumn, they are moved to the milder areas of the vast tundra.

Reindeer are not suited for farm life; they require constant movement to avoid exhausting the pastures.

#traditionsofRussia

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📰🇷🇺 Reports from foreign media about an alleged phone conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and elected U.S. leader Donald Trump are false; such a conversation did not take place. This was stated by the press secretary of the President of Russia, Dmitry Peskov, at a briefing.

"There was no conversation," said the Kremlin representative. "This is completely untrue; it is pure fabrication."

Peskov characterized the publications by The Washington Post and Reuters, which reported on the supposed conversation, as "the most vivid example of the quality of information being published nowadays, sometimes even in quite respected publications."

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