Date Of Article: 5/30/2002
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Muluzi salutes Russia
By: Ephraim Munthali
President Bakili Muluzi yesterday commended the role Russia plays in searching for solutions to the global security threats and problems. Muluzi said this at Sanjika Palace in Blantyre when he received letters of credence from Russian Federation ambassador-designate Oleg Scherback. “As the world faces the new threat of international terrorism, our eyes and focus are oriented towards influential countries like Russia to play a leading role in coordinating combined international efforts to root out all elements of terror that threaten our existence,” said Muluzi. Muluzi, who also received credentials from Moroccan and Iceland ambassadors Tolal Rhaoufrani and Bjorn Dagbajartsson respectively, assured the Russian ambassador that Malawi would continue to support his government in the global fight against terrorism. On development, the President said his government has put in place programmes and policies aimed at transforming the lives of ordinary citizens by improving their standards of living. Muluzi said his government has created an enabling environment for potential foreign investors and added that Russian companies were welcome to invest in the country. In reply, Scherback said his government appreciated Malawi’s view that “this international evil is a real danger to democracy and humanity”. He said his country was prepared to contribute actively to a comprehensive solution of challenges facing African countries by working with organisations like Southern Africa Development Community (Sadc). “We welcome consistent steps of African countries and your excellency as the chairperson of Sadc, aimed at the African Renaissance, prevention and settlement of conflicts, creation of the basic elements of a collective security system in the region,” Scherback said the two countries can mutually benefit in different spheres, citing training of Malawians in Russian institutions of higher education as one of them. Briefing journalists after presenting his credentials, the new Iceland ambassador to Malawi said his government would continue helping Malawi in the fisheries, health and education sectors. In his speech, Moroccan ambassador Tolal Rhaoufrani said his government wants to enhance cooperation with African countries to achieve social and economic development and regional integration. “The areas of cooperation [between Malawi and Morocco] are wide open before us, especially in such fields as agriculture, tourism, water, forestry and training,” said Rhaoufrani.
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