Russia too late in developing relations with Africa: Medvedev

Fresh from his five-day trip to African countries, President Dmitry Medvedev today said such a visit should have taken place much earlier, but it was not too late for Russia to play a role in the continent.

''Work with our African partners should have been started earlier,'' Mr Medvedev said adding that Africa was waiting for our support. ''Russia was almost too late'' in engaging with Africa, he stressed.

Mr Medvedev's predecessor, former President Vladimir Putin, visited only South Africa and Morocco in his eight years of two four-year term.

The main result of Mr Medvedev's trip, billed as Russia's return to Africa, was to boost a sense of friendship, but he discussed all manner of cooperation with his counterparts in Egypt, Nigeria, Namibia and Angola, Russian political observers said.

During his trip, Russian companies signed deals worth billions of dollars.

''Our policies here will be very friendly, but at the same time pragmatic,'' Mr Medvedev said, noting the former Soviet Union ''always held a very friendly position with regard to African countries, helping them win independence.'' However, despite such ties, particularly with countries such as Namibia and Angola, Moscow's influence has deteriorated since the break up of the Soviet Union, as countries turned to the US and China.

The interest of major international players in Africa is actively discussed on the continent, and Mr Medvedev asked reporters, ''Are we any worse than them?'' Mr Medvedev said Russian companies should compete in Africa, particularly with the US and Chinese firms.

-- (UNI) -- 27DF3.xml

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