Russia welcomes new regional African organization

Russia welcomes the creation of the African Union and is interested in developing the closest cooperation with the new regional organization, said Russian foreign minister Igor Ivanov at a meeting with his South African counterpart Nkosazanna Dlamini-Zuma.

During the talks the parties again confirmed the similarity of their approach to the topical international problems, including strategic stability, defining the new global security system and strengthening the role of the UN, Ivanov said.

The ministers also exchanged opinions on the development of processes on the African continent. Special attention was paid to conflict situations in Africa. Russia and South Africa spoke for political settlement in the continent's hot spots. The ministers welcomed the Angola settlement and exchanged opinions on possible moves for solving other conflicts both at the bilateral level and within international organizations.

The meeting also touched upon the situation in the Middle East, in the Persian Gulf, around Iraq and Afghanistan. Ivanov and Dlamini-Zuma exchanged opinions on international steps for combating new threats and challenges, first of all from international terrorism.