May 25, 2020 Congratulations Africa Day

MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND HIGHER EDUCATION OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION INSTITUTE FOR AFRICAN STUDIES OF THE RUSSIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES May 25, 2020 № 14302-4697/м

TO HEADS OF MISSIONS OF AFRICAN STATES IN THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

Your Excellency,

The Institute for African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences presents its compliments and has the honor to congratulate You and Your Country on the occasion of 2020 Africa Day.

Six decades ago, Africa attained a fateful date in its history, which manifested a decisive step towards freedom, peace and independence. The peoples of the continent became full members of the world community of independent nations. Over the years, the states of the continent have made a great contribution to solving the key problems of our time and strengthening partnership in order to build a just world based on the unconditional rule of international law.

In recent decades, many countries in the region have undergone significant changes for the better, and in a variety of areas. Africa is on the path of comprehensive modernization and economic growth. The influence of Africans in world politics and economy, in solving urgent problems of our time, is growing. The African Union, as an effective mechanism for multilateral political, economic and humanitarian cooperation on the continent, is playing an increasingly important role.

Our country has consistently supported the liberation of the continent from colonial dependence and rendered all possible assistance to the formation of young African states. It was in those days that a solid foundation was laid for Russian-African relations, which took on a new dimension in 2019, when the first Russia-Africa Summit and Economic Forum took place.

The Institute for African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, for its part, has always actively contributed to the deepening of the traditionally cordial relations with Your country and stands ready to seek the still unexplored possibilities for fruitful bilateral engagement, create favorable conditions for progressive development of mutually beneficial cooperation in economic, scientific, cultural and humanitarian fields.

Today, the whole world stands before a new challenge - the coronavirus infection, which, unfortunately, has not bypassed both the countries of the African continent and the Russian Federation.

Given the current unfavorable epidemiological situation, we decided to postpone the traditional celebration of African Day, held for the last 60 years at the premises the RAS Institute for African Studies, to the autumn of 2020. Hoping that by this time all of us will defeat COVID-19, we will be able to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Africa Day in a traditionally friendly atmosphere. The exact date and time of the event will be announced in due course.

Let me once again congratulate You and the staff of your diplomatic mission on the occasion of Africa Day, and to wish you good health and new fruitful achievements in your all-important work for the benefit of further strengthening the traditional relations of friendship, cooperation and mutual understanding between our countries.

I take this opportunity to assure you of my desire to maintain and strengthen the excellent relations, both official and personal, which already exist between our two countries and between your Ambassy and the Institute for African Studies.

Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration,